Jenn
Brown
September
17, 2004
Article
Critique #1
Title:
What Works for Teachers; New approaches to
technology
professional development
Source:
www.electronic-school.com
Citation:
Oates, Rita (2001). What Works for Teacher, Electronic Schools.
Retrieved Feb.
7, 2002, from http://www.electronic-school.com/2002/01/0102f2.html
SYNOPSIS
OF CONTENT:
The
article was not only about incorporating computers into the classroom,
but also
different ways to train the staff to know how to use them. It explains
3 things
that are changing schools. First,
result-Driven Education, which focuses on what students know and are
able to do
as a result of schooling. Second,
Constructivism, which means that the students are active builders of
knowledge
structures and constructors of meaning.
And third, Systems Thinking, which recognizes organizations are
complex. Then it goes on to list many
characteristics of effective training programs for staff and teachers
on how to
use and incorporate computers in the classroom. Lastly, it states that
mentoring
is a key element in the staff development. The article then gives
two
examples of how two different school
districts used these characteristics and guidelines in their schools
and the
success they have achieved.
THOUGHTS
AND OPINIONS:
This
article provided me with a good feeling about being able to use the
internet
when I become a teacher. That is
because of this class. Just by
reviewing the class content, I know that what we are expected to do
will give me
the ability to be able to successfully use the internet in my classroom
on a regular
basis. This article seems to relate to
SLM 521 in many aspects. As I read
through the list of characteristics of a successful program for staff
and
teacher development on computer knowledge I noticed that many of them
reflect
back to this class, such as… "Respects and builds on teachers’
knowledge and
experience", "increases available teacher-support mechanisms with
telecommunications option, such as e-mail and e-mentoring", offers
ongoing
rather than "one-shot" professional development activities, "customizes
professional development", "uses a structured, coherent training
curriculum", "focuses on integrating technology tools into
instruction", "encourages
and
facilitates sharing best practices" and "craft talk" and lastly
"provides a
flexible schedule of targeted instruction".
I
am looking forward to becoming an expert on how to use the internet in
my
classroom. This article has shown me
that this class is really going to help me accomplish that.