Professional Development Services

Planning

Effective staff development is not possible without effective planning. Effective planning not only involves the administration of the school, but the participants as well. Our staff developers begin with a planning session with the principal and participating teachers to ensure that the overall goals of the school are met and that the training is relevant to the teachers' everyday classroom experiences. Various options are explored and a customized program is developed.

Mentoring

Research demonstrates that we learn best when we are actively engaged in meaningful, relevant, real-world activities. Through a project-based approach, our staff developers work with teachers and students in the classroom modeling lessons, demonstrating how to address standards, teaching curriculum, generating student products that demonstrate learning, and integrating technology into everyday classroom activities. Research also demonstrates that we should learn what we need to know when we need to know it. Teachers learn the skills they need in real-time and in the context of their daily lesson. Through carefully crafted projects and activities, teachers become engaged in meaningful and relevant professional development directly related to their everyday teaching.

Workshops

Workshops are an effective tool for professional development when the workshops actively engage the participants in meaningful activities. TechKNOW workshops include lively presentations of relevant materials and hands-on activities that teachers can bring back to their classrooms for immediate use.

Conferences

TechKNOW has the expertise, experience, and staff to conduct full or half day conferences to meet the needs of a school or school district.