Technology in Schools

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Title by Meredith Barker 

Technology In Education

Technology is an incredible resource that can transform the classroom. Technology like virtual and augmented reality can 'transport' students to Europe, into a volcano, or outer space. Technology can be used to engage students in learning through interactive games, videos, and online presentations. Technology allows teachers to receive instant, detailed data from students to propel their teaching when using platforms like Google Forms. The possibilities with technology use in education are endless, ever-changing, and impactful. 

New Technologies

With new technology being released constantly, it is a challenge for schools to be current on the latest and newest technologies. Schools are often trying to equip their teachers and students with the best and latest technologies, which is understandably so when the impacts of technology in schools are incredibly beneficial for both the students and teachers. Although the latest technologies are fun to have and do have their benefits, Frazier and Hearrington, expert educators, suggest that not only are the technology devices important, but the professional development on how to use the technologies are just as important. Frazier and Hearrington (2024) state, "teacher professional development plays a critical role in effective change management initiatives" (p. 76). They go on to say, "professional development can help teachers understand the rationale behind this change, learn new teaching strategies that align with the new curriculum, and develop the skills necessary to assess students' progress effectively" (Frazier & Hearrington, 2024, p.76). 
The importance of professional development is not an idea exclusive to Frazier and Hearrington. Researchers Timotheou et al. (2022) conclude through their research that "professional development affects the impact of digital technologies on education" (p. 16). They continue to reinforce this idea when stating, "training on how technologies can benefit teaching and learning can eliminate barriers [when integrating technologies]" (Timotheou et al., 2022, p. 16). 

Professional Development 

It is clear professional development for technology use and integration is vital to the success and benefit of technologies in education. Too often, educators only have professional development opportunities for reading and math content. With schools spending thousands of dollars on technology, professional development for educators on the technology purchased is essential. 
Teachers' time is valuable, and it often seems like they never have enough of it. Because of that, attending professional development outside of their working hours can often be frustrating, but it is tough to incorporate professional development opportunities within the work day. So, if technology professional development is essential, how do we ensure teachers can attend? One way is through online professional development. 

Online Professional Development 

Online professional development opportunities are flexible for teachers' schedules. Educators can view professional development at a time that is convenient for them, making them more likely to be attuned to the training. It is also an excellent resource for teachers to refer back to when they need to review parts of the training. Having professional development on technology opportunities at educators' fingertips can revolutionize how technologies are used, significantly impacting student learning. 
A former teacher, administrator, and professional development leader details the benefits of online professional development. Watch below!

  




References 

Frazier, M., & Hearrington, D. (2024a). Technology Coordinator's Handbook, Fourth Edition: A Guide for Edtech Facilitators and Leaders. 

Timotheou, S., Miliou, O., Dimitriadis, Y., Sobrino, S. V., Giannoutsou, N., Cachia, R., Monés, A. M., & Ioannou, A. (2022). Impacts of digital technologies on education and factors influencing schools' digital capacity and transformation: A literature review. Education and Information Technologies, 28(6), 6695–6726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11431-8

Comments

  1. Mr. BeardMarch 2, 2025 at 9:08 AM

    Hey Meredith, I really like how you highlight the power of technology in education and the need for professional development to make it effective. As Frazier and Hearrington (2024) point out, technology is only as good as a teacher’s ability to use it, and without proper training, even the best tools can go to waste. Your point about online professional development is spot on, flexibility is key for busy teachers. Having the PD or training available whenever teachers have the time to work on it is so helpful. Lawless and Pellegrino (2007) emphasize that ongoing, embedded training has the biggest impact on teacher confidence and technology use. One way to make PD even more effective is through microlearning (short, targeted sessions that focus on specific skills). Pairing this with mentorship programs could also help teachers feel more supported as they integrate new tools. Your post makes a great case for investing in both technology and teacher training. When schools prioritize both, they set teachers and students up for success.

    References

    Frazier, M., & Hearrington, D. (2024). The Technology Coordinator’s Handbook (4th ed.). ISTE.
    Lawless, K. A., & Pellegrino, J. W. (2007). Professional development in integrating technology into teaching and learning: Knowns, unknowns, and ways to move forward. Review of Educational Research, 77(4), 575-614.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Digital EducatorMarch 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM

    Meredith,
    Professional development is so important, and your blog hits home on the reasons why. I recently started teaching pure technology skills in my STEM specials classes and I've learned so much about just how much students need to know when it comes to their devices. Keyboard shortcuts, home-row typing, page set up in a word processor--these all seem so simple, but a lot of professional adults are missing these skills! It has been a humbling experience forcing myself to slow down, back up, and focus on the basics. These type of skills are things that our teachers can catch up on quickly if they are in the right PLCs. A team of researchers noted that teachers, especially new teachers, can have access to real-time expertise through the proper PLCs (Warmoes, et al., 2024). I think another major take away from our text is that professional development should be embedded into the culture of the school (Frazier & Hearrington, 2024, p. 89). When it becomes the norm, it is no longer a chore for teachers.

    References

    Frazier, M. & Hearrington, D. (2024). The technology coordinator’s handbook. (4th ed.). International Society for Technology in Education.
    Warmoes, A., Decabooter, I., Van Gasse, R., Struyven, K., & Consuegra, E. (2024). How professional learning networks can support teachers’ data literacy: In conversation with experts. Education Sciences, 14(10) http://doi.org/10.3390/edusci14101071

    ReplyDelete

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