Support Innovative Professional Learning with Technology
Goal 2:
Research, encourage and support current and emerging technology-based resources that support educators in producing and implementing high quality, innovative instructional practices to increase the quality of education and equity for students.
Resources/Partnerships:
Institutions of higher education, educational stakeholder groups, professional organizations, business and industry groups, and local school divisions.
Results (What do we want to accomplish?)
Educators will support personalized, deeper learning experiences that are enhanced through technology integration.
Educators will monitor students’ progress and inform instructional practices with the use of technology.
Educators will utilize instructional technology to support student engagement.
Educators will demonstrate understanding of how to enhance performance-based and alternative assessments with the use of technology.
Staff will use technology to support a culture of data-driven decision making to evaluate and improve teaching and learning.
Staff will use technology resources to improve communication of academic progress with students and families.
Staff will maintain regular communication between teachers and administrators to assess instructional technology needs and technology applications.
Indicators (What evidence will exist of completion?)
Professional learning opportunities are documented and recorded.
Current and emerging technology-based resources used by educators are documented.
Collect information on the number of students enrolled in advanced coursework (e.g., dual enrollment, AP), internships and industry certifications.
Use of Student Information System (SIS).
Action (What action will be taken?)
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to create instructional resources that can be used by educators to support innovative learning experiences.
Promote Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel to support knowledgeable and skilled teachers and school leaders.
Research the use of micro-credentialing to support teachers’ professional goals in the integration of technology.
Promote in-school and out-of-school technology-based learning opportunities (i.e. industry certifications, professional licenses, and dual enrollment courses) along with career exploration, exposure, and planning opportunities.
Integrate the proficient use of technology into professional learning activities.
Support current and emerging technologies into professional practices and learning.
Promote digital citizenship and internet safety.
Provide information about assistive technology uses through the Training and Technical Assistance Centers (TTAC).
Support the development of performance-based assessment and evaluations that integrate technology.
Research available resources that can be used to document and track CTE competencies (i.e. CanDo).
Provide support for educators on how to use data to improve teaching and learning.
Related Resources
Resources for Revised SOL
VDOE provides resources and professional development opportunities to support newly adopted Standards of Learning. Teachers can learn about these opportunities through Teacher Direct.
Accountability Terminology Guide
The terminology used in Assessment and Accountability can be confusing. VDOE has gathered a list of frequently used terms, the Accountability Terminology.
Special Education Resources
Although the resources collected by the eight regional Training and Technical Assistance Centers (TTACs) are directed to Special Education teachers, the resources are helpful for all educators. See their extensive list of resources on technology.
Staying Current with Copyright
Staying up-to-date on copyright is difficult because the law changes with new technologies as well as new judicial decisions. An authoritative resource for all educators is the American Library Association (ALA) website.
Social Media and PLNs
One way that teachers can create their own Personal Learning Network (PLN) is through the social media platform Twitter. Teachers can pursue information or skills that they are interested in learning, and connect with others who are like-minded. The Complete Guide To Twitter Hashtags For Education can help the novice begin to use twitter for their own professional learning. There are many other ways to connect with other educators, such as —Second Life, Pinterest, even Facebook. The Virginia Society for Technology in Education(VSTE) supports a variety of learning communities. The VDOE provides a professional learning network database of Virginia division contacts for specific topics such as Integration of Technology and High School Redesign.