Teachers, Technology and Training - ICTD2010

Paper presented by Laura Hosman at ICTD 2010
Technology, Teachers and Training: Combining Theory with Macedonia's Experience. - Laura Hosman, Maja Cvetanoska

Media Connect Project: a USAID led inititative with the motive to have one computer lab per school. Below are notes from this session:

Points

• "Teachers' concerns advance predictably upon a continuum
• Level of use advances upon a continuum
• Concerns should be addressed as they arise/develop over time
• Leaders/change facilitators must intervene appropriately to support and address teachers concerns"

Finding

• There was a high percentage of teachers using the computers
• The teachers using computers for personal use, to prepare lessons and not in the lessons

Takeaway/Recommendations

1. Innovation is not a one time thing, but ongoing: have yearly ICT plan within the school
2. Education and psychology scholars write about this but policy makers not reading these journals so there is oversight: again we are not talking to each other, need to do so
3. Teachers are key change agents, treat them accordingly: Teachers matter, involve them as stakeholders
4. Teachers need to be supported throughout the process of change, we should take into account their needs, concerns etc.