Teachers are always trying to update their knowledge and learn new skills in their already limited free time. It is this lack of time and resources that is threatening their professional development. Just over half (55 per cent) of the teachers surveyed in a recent report which Microsoft undertook admitted to continuing their professional development following the end of the school day, while just over a fifth (22 per cent) are working on this at the weekend or while on holiday.
The data reveals that less than half (45 per cent) of all teachers are being released from school to attend training and workshops – a statistic due to a lack of resources as much as to budget constraints. Recognising the challenges facing teachers, Microsoft developed Innovative Teachers, a continuing professional development (CPD) programme, which aims to improve teaching innovation and provide a flexible approach to career development. Innovative Teachers is a programme focused on the sharing of best practice and innovative teaching ideas.
The primary aim is to build a community of teachers who can share information and learn from one another. Teachers who have registered for the programme are given access to a private area on The Education Community (www.theeducation community.com), an online community for teachers to share information, ideas and resources on the use of ICT in education.
Virtual Classroom Tours.
As part of the programme, each teacher creates a Virtual Classroom Tour (VCT) – a packaged-up learning project which includes samples of student work, teacher guides, lesson materials and pictures or short video clips of lessons in progress. Each VCT provides all of the information and resources needed to replicate the project successfully in their own classroom. VCTs are shared with other Innovative Teachers, but some are also available to teachers who are not part of the programme through The Education Community.
As a continuing professional development resource, the programme is made up of three steps – Learner, Creator and Developer – and each step is recognised with certification or accreditation, providing the teacher with recognition of the skills they have learned.
At the Learner stage, you discover how to use your PC in teaching, learning about Windows, Microsoft Office and the Internet. At the end of this stage you can earn IC3 certification, a globally recognised qualification which demonstrates a good standard of knowledge and skills required for basic use of computer hardware, software, networks, and using the Internet in the classroom. At the Creator stage, you build on these skills and focus more on the pedagogy of integrating technology into the classroom. This is also the stage where you create your own VCT. At the Developer stage, you learn how to develop the ICT skills of your fellow teachers and to start sharing your skills by acting as a peer coach.