Friday 7 July 2017

Encouraging staff

One of the informal leadership roles I have in my school is that of tech leader.  I've taken it upon myself to help staff find ways of incorporating digital tools into the teaching and learning.  I try to do this in a few ways...
1) I've started writing for the school's staff newsletter again.  I had to give this up for a while, but I've taken it back again this spring.  I hope that I will get to continue this in the fall with our new administration team.  I try to write about a tool that teachers could incorporate into their work with the students.  I also try to encourage other PD opportunities that teachers can access like the OTF webinars or summer institutes.
2) I am part of the planning group for our annual staff meeting about tech in the classrooms.  We try to run various sessions that teachers can choose from.  Each session is 15-20 minutes and staff go to 3 different sessions in the course of an hour.  Some sessions are staff run and we try to bring in people from around the board to share what they are doing as well.  I usually both try to present something and help develop the list of people to invite.  We work to make sure that staff presenting do not present all three sessions so they can participate in the learning as well.  This year I presented interactive slideshows, and we invited MaryKay to talk about Maker Spaces and Kendra to talk iPad apps for sharing learning.
3) On no bus days and during the exam and turn around time, in addition to making myself available for any questions or help I may be able to give, I try to set up a session to show one tool in a little more depth than I usually have time for.  Last week I advertised a session on Planboard.
I am often disappointed by the turnout.  I don't ask for RSVPs, but people will often stop and tell me they are interested and planning on coming.  Last week at least 5 people said they were interested and would see me Wednesday afternoon.  Wednesday afternoon came and 3 people showed up - only one of whom was someone who told me she was coming.  But by putting myself out there and offering group sessions, people also know I'm willing to share ideas and tech tips and that means that they will seek me out when they have questions or what to bounce ideas off someone.  I really like that aspect of the informal leadership role I've created for myself.

1 comment:

  1. Your staff is definitely lucky to have a person willing to organize some professional learning! June is an incredibly busy time so perhaps although they had best intentions it just couldn't happen right then for one reason or another.

    Have you thought about adding a teaser in the title that let's them know what the technology might do for them? Or did they already know in the case of Planboard do you think? Something like - Want an efficient way to store, edit and revise your digital lessons? You need Planboard!

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