Lincoln Action Plan -- Professional Development
Overview Statement
Most of the staff and faculty at Lincoln Community School have
a working knowledge of basic word processing functions. Skills are weaker
in the areas of presentation tools, telecommunications, information access,
electronic spreadsheets and databases, problem solving, and basic information
technology skills. It would be wise to emphasize staff development in our
areas of greatest need with a particular focus on technology currently
available at our school that effects classroom curriculum.
Alongside the development of technological skills, it is essential that teachers have clear ideas of how they will implement these skills in their classrooms, integrating them with curriculum and using them for their own needs as teachers and learners. For this reason, each staff development experience will include an action plan for classroom implementation.
Our sequence of skill development areas will be as follows:
Fall 1997: Presentation Tools and Computer Vocabulary (School
Staff)
Each teacher will be offered training in constructing a multimedia
presentation appropriate to his/her grade level assignment. This will include
creating pages that combine text, graphics, sound, and (if relevant) imported
still images and video clips. In addition, each teacher will have the opportunity
to learn how to use the scanner and the LCD panel to enhance computer presentations.
A staff meeting will be devoted to explaining pertinent jargon/vocabulary of information technology.
The Librarian and a team of teachers from Lincoln Community School will participate in a two-credit graduate course on Implementing Information Literacy Standards, offered through ANESU. This course is part of the Technology Challenge Grant Award received by the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union in June, 1997.
Winter (Dec-March) 1997-1998: Telecommunications (District Staff)
Each teacher will be given assistance in completing a search on the World Wide Web related to a classroom unit of study and in downloading relevant information from the Internet. We will also discuss responsible use of the Internet. Interested teachers will also have the opportunity to learn how to design pages for the World Wide Web (through district workshops or courses) and will gain assistance in uploading classroom pages to the Internet.
Spring 1998 (April - May): Problem Solving (School Staff)
Teachers will explore our school collection of simulation software. The focus will be integrating appropriate software with present and subsequent units of study. Teachers in the intermediate grades will also have the opportunity to explore computer-based lab equipment.
Long-Term Professional Development Goals
- desktop publishing skills, including merging information and combining
text, graphic, and charts
- application of databases and spreadsheets
- research skills -- retrieving and printing desired information such
as bibliographies and abstracts of articles from encyclopedias and periodicals
on CD-ROM; databases such as ERIC; and other online resources
- video technology skills, both with and without computer connections
- publishing information and creating a web page on the Internet
- using fax machines
Ongoing Professional Development
School resource people will be available to assist teachers with specific professional development needs and classroom curriculum needs in the areas of information technology to continually integrate information technology into the curriculum. When a computer lab is established, professional development programs will need to provide instruction on the use and integration of the computer lab within the school. In order to meet this needs, we will need a school technologist at least one day per week.
Professional Development Needs of Support Staff
Support staff personnel will be encouraged to enhance their knowlegde of information technology. This could happen through several avenues such as: after school courses and/or workshops in the district, individual sessions with professional staff or our district technology coordinator.
- Immediate Needs - Basic Skill Training
- Understand the basics of a computer's operating system.
- Understand basic file management concepts (how to create, save, delete, and store files so that they can be easily retrieved).
- Follow on-screen instructions to run software. (This will need to happen using several pieces of different software, so that learners will develop confidence.)
- Learn to use and attach peripheral devices such as an LCD panel and scanner.
- Edit pictures/photos using appropriate software
- Know how to use the school video camera, including tripod,with or without battery, battery charging and storing.
- Be familiar with the Internet. This would include learning the following skills:
- Log on and off
- Use Internet browser software
- Bookmark a site
- Search for topics using search engine such as Yahoo
- Use e-mail to communicate with others (both inside and outside of school)
- Feel comfortable responding to issues of appropriate and inappropriate use of Internet resources.
- Intermediate Skill Attainment
- Know how to use research tools on CD-ROM such as encyclopedias, bibliographies or CD-ROMs on specific topics
- Learn how to create a multimedia pagecombining text, sound and graphics.
- Create a sound file.
- Advanced Skills Attainment
- Use a multimedia program such as Hyperstudio or Kid Pix to create a multiple page multimedia folder.
- Use a still video camera
- Digitize still video images
- Publish information on the Internet
- Upload/download information to/from the Internet
- Use and create databases and spreadsheets
- Desktop publishing (Use software to produce professional looking documents that combine text, graphics and charts).
- Use a fax machine and send faxes via a computer modem.
Each support staff person will be asked to attain the following skills:
Professional Support Staff and Classroom Teachers
Immediate Goals
Last Revised: 10/21/97