Module 4 - Gilchrist

As I read through the content of this module I was reminded of the continual challenge of education that faces todays educators.   It is no longer enough to get your teaching certificate and move into a classroom.  The days of developing a lesson plan and regurgitating it every year are long gone.  I remember my 8th Grade Ohio History Teacher pulling out the overhead transparencies and one student commenting that her mother was right, she was still using the exact same content as her mother had compared her notebook with the daughters.  We were required to write the information down exactly as presented on the transparencies and each semester the notebooks were collected.  Penmanship and spelling were calculated in the grade.  There was no improvisation or extra note taking permitted in the "official" notebook. 

Professional Development has continued to change in the education world and as I have discussed with friends who are educators the content of these readings I am gaining a new appreciation for their challenges.  A new teaching friend, Sue,  has now had a mentor teacher since the first of the school year.  She reports that this mentorship has been less than satisfactory.  It seems that no one applied for the position and the principle recruited this experienced teacher because he knew there was a financial need there.  My friend, has received strong mentorship from a non-paid "mentor" who has befriended her.  My friend mentions that this friend was not aware that there was a posting or she would have applied.

I believe the experience of Sue is reflective of Job Embedded Professional Development.  While this situation has not been ideal, Sue explains that it has been a productive arrangement and she feels comfortable in her current situation.  She explains that the situation could improve if her mentor were teaching the same field as she, but she is working through the challenge.

As I look at the tools and resources necessary to develop a technology assessment I believe one of the most valuable resources that may be overlooked is practicing teachers.  Sue has faced a strong learning curve in utilizing her SMART Board in the classroom.  While her school system provides three dedicated IT professionals to be shared within three schools those professionals are often unavailable to provide assistance when needed.  Sue has had hands on training from other teachers and even staff who have had experience with similar technology, as Sue is the only one with this particular configuration.

As I look towards putting together a technology assessment to be utilized in an educational setting outside of the traditional school environment I believe it would be necessary to conduct research with schools that would be utilizing the resources at the Folklife Center.  If I am to develop virtual resources for pre- and post- visits to the facility then I need to be aware of the technology that is available to these students and teachers. 

I believe it would be possible to work within the boundaries of an Action Research endeavor to determine what resources are available to potential visitors to the Center so that it could then be determined what would be approriate resources to develop and make available to maximize the field trip experience.