Learning & Leading Through Technology

cess, those facilitating the trainings needed to meet Digital Days attendees at their levels. The district once again administered the instructional technology survey for teachers to assess their technology competencies and determine their growth since the last survey. This allowed district leadership to design trainings aligned to individual needs.

The first Digital Days offered 47 classes, providing staff with a wide variety of choices tiered to different levels of proficiency. We created topics by analyzing a district needs assessment and the deficits identified by Tech Team members. The trainings, structured in two-hour sessions, included an hour of instruction and an hour of application time.

Teachers appreciated having a menu of technology PD options, and they valued the hour of application time. A veteran teacher said that before we added the application time, she attempted to use new tech tools at home and would become frustrated because there was no one to help guide her. Our new two-hour structure allows teachers to have guided practice, which leads to greater implementation in the classroom.

Empowering Teachers

Tech Team members have embraced their new roles, and colleagues have recognized their leadership. Last year, five out of the eight candidates for the district teacher of the year were members of the Tech Team.

NCCS strives to empower teachers
and build capacity in instructional
technology, not only by identifying
teacher leaders for the Tech Team,
but also through implementing Tech
Tens, which the Tech Team was solely
responsible for presenting in 2011–12.
However, this year the district is re-
quiring all teachers to present a Tech
Ten in a professional learning commu-
nity or staff meeting. This helps move
teachers from a passive role to actively
sharing their technology skills, strate-
gies, and resources with their peers.

Jayme Linton is the director of teacher education at Lenoir- Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina, USA, and a PhD student at the University of North Carolina at Greens- boro. She was recognized by the National School Boards Association as one of the “ 20 to Watch” for 2012–13 and is a recipient of the 2013 ISTE Making IT Happen award.

Cindy Geddes is the instruc- tional technology and staff development coordinator for Newton-Conover City Schools in Newton, North Carolina, USA. She loves empowering teachers to become digital age educators. Find her on Twitter @cindygeddes.