Professional Development


For technology integration to be effective, educators need to learn how to use and integrate it successfully. Professional development is critical to an effective technology initiative
Read about eleven steps that can help you get started.

Read the professional development articles below

  • How do we adapt, adopt, and implement online education at the K-12 level to achieve optimal outcomes for students? Using a Delphi research approach, a recent study developed priority areas over the next five years so online education can meet the growing challenge.

  • How do we teach science to all K-12 students? While many efforts have focused on improving science standards and curriculum, a group of science educators are examining a totally different method of teaching science.

  • Which states have the majority of high school dropouts? What would improve the chances of those dropouts staying in high school and graduating? A new report analyzes the data.

  • 21st Century Skills: offers a viable transporter to catapult learners’ skills from the present to the future effectively and exceptional companion resources.

  • Can serious learning come from playing serious games? A recent panel discussion highlighted the belief that students’ use of engaging software will advance content knowledge.

  • Can charter schools be the model for turning around the 5,000 lowest performing schools, one of the main goals of the U.S. Department of Education? Some charter schools have been successful with disadvantaged students, but what happens to that success when they get scaled up?

  • The New Year is a traditional time to reflect on the past, contemplate the present, and dream about the future. So this month we share some of our favorite quotes written about educational technology from the past 25 to 75 years.

  • How do charter schools compare to traditional schools? This is one of the more significant questions in education in the 21st century since charter schools are at the heart of education reform. A recent study shows that for many students, charter school is no different than traditional school. However, there are definite groups of target students who are benefiting greatly from the altered classroom.

  • Do teenagers understand the ramifications of their online actions? A new poll from Junior Achievement/Deloitte notes the social responsibility of networking teenagers but states concern about personal ethics.

  • There are many new tools or web sites to use with great success in the classroom. Last month, Laura provided ten, and here are 10 more to use in the classroom.

  • Can better teaching be designed? Furman Brown has spent years as a teacher studying the art and science of teaching, and has discovered that, perhaps if teachers spent less time teaching and more time collaborating, it could result in more successful teachers and students.

  • If you’re helping educators to use technology, here are some things to think about – and some questions to ask.

  • Is the federal government’s role in education to dictate what states should do or is it to support best practices to create an educated populace ready for the 21st century? Read what Secretary of Education Arne Duncan thinks.

  • A recent two-year study examined the effect of an after-school program devoted to academically intense curricula in reading and mathematics for second grade to fifth grade students in need of skills improvement in those areas.

  • How do we identify the innovations that are needed to create successful 21st century schools? A committee representing diverse views on education has identified and reported on the different innovation gaps in our school system.

  • In an era of shrinking budgets and higher expectations what is the most effective tool for education? Karen Cator, the Education Technology Director for the U. S. Department of Education, says that technology can increase efficiency and be a vital part of all aspects of education reform.

  • What is the best way for English Language Learners to learn English? A new report from the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute suggests it is to get reclassified into mainstream English classes.

  • There are many new tools or Web sites that can be used with great success in the classroom. Here are 10 that are easy to use and help students to learn.

  • How do you achieve a goal of 100% proficiency in America’s students? You achieve the goal by creating a common yardstick that measures consistently. This is the challenge and NAEP is working hard with the states to meet the goal.

  • What are the key ingredients that distinguish great organizations from good (or mediocre) ones? What separates great leaders from good leaders? Here are some answers.

Technology & Curriculum Integration

The goal of technology integration is to use technology seamlessly so that the technology itself becomes a transparent and integral tool to teach core curriculum.

Learn more about integrating technology into various curriculum areas.


Case Studies

What makes a difference in deciding on what technologies to use and how and when to use them is evidence that they work. Case studies that demonstrate effective use of technology and show results provide information about what could work for us.

Visit the Case Studies section.


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