Fear.

How many educators are fearful not of innovation, but of not being provided the professional development (PD) necessary to implement the innovation we are pushed to provide our students?

As I foresee within my own school system, albeit change is occurring, educators are not fearful of the tools, we are fearful of the professional development that is lacking in order to implement such tools. In order to effectively empower and implement the tools necessary to transform learning in the digital age, educators must be given similar access to professional development which will help them develop expertise in technology.

No, I don’t mean the sit-and-get, chalk-and-talk PD format. I mean, TRUE, effective digital professional development that has educators practicing, failing, succeeding, and repeating such a process throughout the entire school year. I recently came across an article by ASCD which considers several components to the challenges we as educators face to technology based on a study entitled, “The Next Generation of Teachers” at the Harvard Graduate School of Education: 

Photo Credit: Edudemic.com

1. Is there access to on-site and on-time professional development?

2. Is there a “professional culture” that is oriented around support and recommendation?

3. Are we acknowledging that not all staff members are on the same level as one another when it comes to technology proficiency? And if so, is there sustained, innovative and scaffolded professional development to meet an array of staff?

4. Are we developing a collaborative environment which uses the resources of our teachers to help one another become proficient and innovative with technology?

If such questions can be honestly considered and addressed by school systems, than I believe the fear around technology may dissipate. In fact, I think we as a profession may begin to embrace the change in a constructive manner that will only progress our students’ success and impact on this ever-evolving world around us.