3.1.a: Ensure Access to Skilled Teachers

                        

                           

This section wants leaders to ensure that teachers create a safe place to learn and improve their technology skills. In this way, all students will have access to teachers who know how to integrate technology to improve learning.  It purports, that by giving teachers support, resources, and training, they can develop the skills needed to create meaningful, engaging, and tech-enhanced environments and learning experiences for their students.  

Most of the teachers within my department are willing to embrace new technologies as they acknowledge its benefits. However, they are equally aware of the challenges posed by a lack of infrastructure e.g. wifi, storage etc. and the time necessary to effectively use technology in the classroom and engage in training within the school day. Recognizing these challenges, the Government has embarked on providing free training that can be done at a teacher's convenience, e.g. Coursera.

At my institution leaders can ensure their teachers are skilled by…

 

Providing Ongoing Professional Development in Technology Use

Leaders can help teachers by giving them ongoing professional development (PD) that teaches them how to use technology well in the classroom. This can be done through workshops, training programs (e.g. Google Classroom, Flipgrid, interactive whiteboards, assistive technologies), and personalized PD plans that focus on the tech skills most relevant to their subjects or student needs.

 

 Helping  to Integrate Technology through Mentoring and Peer Support

Leaders can encourage teachers to work together, where more experienced teachers help teachers who are new to technology, through mentorship and peer support, e.g. Tech ‘lunch and learn’.

 

Encouraging New Ideas and Testing New Technologies

Teachers are free to try out new digital tools and ways of teaching when they feel supported and encouraged to do so by their leaders. School leaders can encourage this by setting up innovation grants for teachers to explore new technologies. They can also recognize teachers for their successes and mistakes, encouraging them to grow.

 

Giving People Access to Quality Digital Resources

Leaders should ensure that teachers use trustworthy, high-quality digital resources to make lessons that are real and interesting by providing access to high-quality educational platform subscriptions like Nearpod, Newsela, or Google Classroom. A team led by the principal can also compile and share a list of approved resources in line with the curriculum.

 

Helping Teachers make Learning Experiences that are Real and Interesting

Leaders should encourage teachers to use technology to make learning more relevant and fun for their students. Teachers should create real and interesting learning experiences, such as real-world problem-solving (project-based learning platforms) and student-led projects like podcasts, video presentations, or blogs. This approach makes learning more relevant and enjoyable for