What the Heck is an ITRT?What the Heck is an ITRT?Larry BlodgettLarry BlodgettMelodi PowerMelodi Power

Melissa RollossonMelissa RollossonPaul BeckerPaul Becker

An ITRT…An ITRT…

provides on-site and on demand provides on-site and on demand assistance for fellow teachers to create assistance for fellow teachers to create different forms of learning and teaching different forms of learning and teaching with the help of technologies.with the help of technologies.11

seeks to improve student learning by seeks to improve student learning by showing teachers the thoughtful showing teachers the thoughtful applications and best practices of these applications and best practices of these new tools. new tools. 11

1Virginia Department of Education. Office of Educational Technology. Instructional Technology Resource Teacher and Technology Support Positions A Handbook for School Divisions.

The Value of ITRTs:The Value of ITRTs:

Indications show that ITRTs, carefully Indications show that ITRTs, carefully chosen and wisely used, are more chosen and wisely used, are more effective in helping teachers incorporate effective in helping teachers incorporate technology into teaching and learning technology into teaching and learning than any other form of professional than any other form of professional development. development. 11

1Virginia Department of Education. Office of Educational Technology. Instructional Technology Resource Teacher and Technology Support Positions A Handbook for School Divisions.

ITRT Time ITRT Time ManagementManagement

TaskTask Percent Percent of timeof time

Assist teachersAssist teachers ≥ ≥ 70%70%

Meet with administratorsMeet with administrators ≤ ≤ 15%15%

Communicate progressCommunicate progress ≤ ≤ 10%10%

Minor troubleshootingMinor troubleshooting ≤ ≤ 4%4%

Maintain recordsMaintain records ≤ ≤ 1%1%

The ChallengeThe Challenge

To provide adequate training and To provide adequate training and support to bring teachers at every point support to bring teachers at every point of the continuum from technophobia to of the continuum from technophobia to technomania to an adequate level of technomania to an adequate level of technical expertise so learning goals technical expertise so learning goals can be met.can be met.11

1Virginia Department of Education. Office of Educational Technology. Instructional Technology Resource Teacher and Technology Support Positions A Handbook for School Divisions.

The Ultimate GoalThe Ultimate Goal

Teachers and students, Teachers and students, alikealike, use , use technology effectively. However:technology effectively. However:– Teachers are “Teachers are “digital immigrantsdigital immigrants”. ”.

We have learned to use it but are not We have learned to use it but are not always comfortable with it.always comfortable with it.

– Students have grown up with Students have grown up with technology and are therefore “technology and are therefore “digital digital nativesnatives” and are far more comfortable ” and are far more comfortable with technology.with technology.

The SolutionThe Solution

Door to door “sales”Door to door “sales” ““How-to” workshops and How-to” workshops and

professional developmentprofessional development One-on-one trainingOne-on-one training Online trainingOnline training Modeling of new technologiesModeling of new technologies Collaborative resource Collaborative resource

developmentdevelopment Needs assessment (survey)Needs assessment (survey)

What’s the Point? What’s the Point? Technology enables:Technology enables:

– Students to become motivated, Students to become motivated, engaged and learn activelyengaged and learn actively

– Authentic learningAuthentic learning– Collaborative learningCollaborative learning– Explore, discover and produce Explore, discover and produce

knowledgeknowledge– Differentiating instruction to meet the Differentiating instruction to meet the

needs of all learnersneeds of all learners– Students to become proficient in Students to become proficient in

technology literacy skillstechnology literacy skills– Performance-based assessmentsPerformance-based assessments

Not sure about that? Not sure about that? Consider this…Consider this…