In the evolving landscape of education, there is a growing consensus among researchers and practitioners about the critical need for flexible and customizable applied professional development for teachers. The push to rapidly adopt a variety of technologies during the global pandemic combined with the rapid pace of technological advancement and the demand for continued integration of digital tools into educational settings require that educators not only become proficient with current technologies but also learn to evaluate and adapt to emerging ones to enhance student learning. Research indicates that professional development programs tailored to the specific needs and contexts of teachers, which also provide opportunities for hands-on practice and collaboration with peers, lead to more meaningful learning experiences and better integration of technology in teaching practices (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017). Teachers will learn to use these technologies in an instructional capacity, but also fulfill the additional expectation that they effectively use online teaching, learning, and networking for ongoing professional development and teacher education (Fishman et al., 2022).
This presentation describes the development of a collaborative, community-building course intended for middle level educators who would like to improve their use of technology for a variety of purposes to enhance classroom practices. The course will use iterative aspects of design thinking, and help participants to think about and understand technology, content, and pedagogy (TPACK)(Koehler & Mishra, 2009). Participants will explore fundamentals of instructional design such as Gagne’s nine events of instruction model (Gagné et al., 1992), and provide reflective points and opportunities for participants to explore, evaluate, and apply a variety of technology tools in a structured, professional way. This presentation will describe how multiple iterations and feedback sessions with teachers produced surprising ideas about how they want to learn to use technology, and for what purposes.
Shawna Gunnarson