Research:

In one study, pre-service teachers who implemented the use of spreadsheets in mathematics classrooms shifted their view of technology “as a tool for reinforcement into viewing technology as a tool for developing student understanding and mathematical concepts” (Agyei, 2013).

Students with strong multimedia skills are more likely to be successful with learning tasks that require digital creativity (Pellegrino & Hilton, 2012).

Teachers who have strong online skills are better able to collaborate on documents and use other web-based tools that increase collaboration in the classroom (Purcell et al., 2013).

Summary:

Teachers have the ability to create spreadsheets, online documents and create digital content.

Goals:

To continue to build on teacher skills and encourage them to translate them into using them with students

Actions:

Increase sharing of best practices between teachers.

Do professional development based on teacher interest.

Research:

Online and blended models can be particularly beneficial to teachers in rural schools and districts, providing opportunities that may not exist locally and therefore helping teachers form a broader professional community and base of support." (Community for Advancing Discovery Research in Education, 2017)

“Learning communities that make use of the potential of digital information and communication media are becoming increasingly important as a means of fostering teachers’ digital competences.” (Seufert, et.al. 2018).

Summary:

The staff of District 92 as a whole do not look for external resources online either through the web or through social media to gain insight into what their class or students need.  They do read online content but do not curate new classrooms items from it.   They also do not seek online webinars to learn more outside the classroom.

Goals:

increase teacher awareness of the benefits of social media and the classroom for finding resources.  

Create an online resource library for teachers so they have a place to start.

Actions:

Having dedicated training fon social media and good resources to follow.

Build a teacher resource guide that is communally shared for online resources and where to find them.