EDLD 5364: Week 4 Part 1

Professional development for teachers is very important.  We are to integrate technology into our curriculum, but we are expected to do so with very little training and follow-up. A new method of professional development provides for using technology that offers support in two ways. First, it clearly states that additional experiences are going to prove useful and support teacher’s confidence. This method is much more effective than the traditional one-day sessions usually comprising of four hours after school when everyone is tired and wanting to go home. Secondly, developing communities of practice allows teachers to learn by participating in the social world through activities, contexts, and cultures. Members of the community are often engaged in common activities that take form in group collaboration to pursue professional goals and interests.

When reading about McREL’s research on cooperative learning, groups should not be based on ability levels, should be small in size, and should be used consistently but not overused. There should be a variety of criteria for grouping students and groups should be kept to a minimal size. Informal, formal, and base groups should be used depending on the complexity and duration of the assignment. Technology such as multimedia, web resources, and communication software can help with cooperative learning.