1. In your opinion, what staff development programs have been successful in your county (either state contract based or other)? Compass Learning courseware training provided through the Basic Skills contract has been the most used training resource in Cabell County Schools. We have also used Microsoft Office training provided through the SUCCESS contract. Additionally, we run local classes in digital photography, Internet, webpage design, Email, Tech Standards, Intel Teach to The Future, SAS inSchool, I-Know, Grade Quick, Marco Polo, and a variety of reading and math software applications. Also, in the last few years EETT funding has allowed us to do a number of after school and summer technology workshops.
2. In what areas do you feel your county has not been successful, or barriers that hinder computer training for your staff. We have not been successful in getting our teachers to take advantage of online training products. We have experimented with a few, but teachers want face to face training and preferably during their regular work day. We need additional time in the schedule and more funding for substitutes. However, it is getting very difficult to get enough substitutes even if money becomes available. I need to be able to provide more incentives for teachers to participate in after school and Saturday training sessions.
3. What do you feel is your greatest priority to ensure teachers get quality and relevant staff development? - I believe that placing technology integration specialists (TIS) in schools is the only way to insure that true integration of technology really takes place. We have wonderful hardware and software products but we do not use them to their full potential. We have used reading and math facilitators in our schools for a number of years and they have been very successful. It is now time to do the same with technology. TISs coach teachers in the integration of technology with the prioritized curriculum. They model the correct use of technology for teachers and help them develop technology based lessons to support the curriculum. Every school needs a TIS position funded in the State Aid Formula!
4. What would be a short-term goal to overcoming the obstacles your county has for meeting training needs? - In the short-term give us enough funding for a traveling TIS position for each county. Also, dedicate some staff development days to technology.
5. In your county, what training is available to your teacher by other sources ( RESA, higher education institutes)? - Our RESA does not provide much in the way of meaningful training to my county. Neither do we use many other outside resources; few are available locally.
6. In your opinion, what staff development programs have been successful in your county (either state contract based or other)? Elementary - Small group training such as Riverdeep conducted on-site during school hours, requires staff to attend – not optional. Teachers have access to their own materials. Secondary – conducted during 90 minute planning – one day a week Marco Polo has been taught in past years; SAS a couple of schools using intensely (2 champion schools). SUCCESS – provides school Kit, Inspiration/Kidspiration, Bridges, and Microsoft Office training. *County offers stipends for summer training – Elementary Technology Academy being taught 8/15-8/18.
7. In what areas do you feel your county has not been successful, or barriers that hinder computer training for your staff. Software – especially at the primary level. TIME for teachers to match CSO’s to software and programs available to them. Our teachers know how to use technology, but they need time to correlate between content standards, subject matter, and software or Internet sites.
8. What do you feel is your greatest priority to ensure teachers get quality and relevant staff development? TIME – we have the money available, but no time for teachers to train. CE/IS days do not include technology training at the present time. 3 hours that was was required of the 18 CE hours has been waived for the past two years.
9. What would be a short-term goal to overcoming the obstacles your county has for meeting training needs? 10. In your county, what training is available to your teacher by other sources ( RESA, higher education institutes)? To follow up the Phase9 – Putnam County offers teachers a 2-part class – fall and spring Intel Academy. In the fall using tech. in the classroom – Internet, e-mail, and Microsoft Office. (Teachers receive a USB Pen Drive and the current copy of Microsoft Office. In the spring – teachers develop a unit using Word, and publisher to use in their classroom, upon completion, teachers receive a video projector for their classroom. NCLB – Ed Tech grant proves money for this Intel Tech. And summer academies Our county monitors technology use by having teachers keep a weekly log that shows the software/program used and the content standard taught. Secondary teachers keep a Lab Log. Principals monitor when evaluating teachers. Software has record keeping (i.e. Riverdeep)
11. In your opinion, what staff development programs have been successful in your county (either state contract based or other)? Basic Skills: Compass – on-going training. Initial 2 day training followed up by Debbie Carter, from Compass training on-site at the schools. SAS used - teachers help by training at other schools (what they have learned) SUCCESS – used successfully in the past for Microsoft Office training.
12. In what areas do you feel your county has not been successful, or barriers that hinder computer training for your staff. - Hardware – many of our machines are still running under Microsoft 95 – won’t run the current software applications.
- Communication – between the staff and the central office on what is available for staff development.
13. What do you feel is your greatest priority to ensure teachers get quality and relevant staff development?TIS !!! 14. What would be a short-term goal to overcoming the obstacles your county has for meeting training needs? The county is purchasing new computers. I am looking at a DANA Machine for word processing, keyboarding, and spreadsheets, for use in the elementary and middle schools. They are durable with a 3 year warranty. 750-hour battery life. Purchasing more mobile laptop labs.
15. In your county, what training is available to your teacher by other sources ( RESA, higher education institutes)? Kanawha County Schools is offering a summer technology academy for graduate credit. Write grants with Marshall Grad. College for technology. Teachers take Marshall Grad. On-line courses and attend classes at the location. Monitoring: on-line usage reports available through programs such as Bridges. Computer lab logs.
16. In your opinion, what staff development programs have been successful in your county (either state contract based or other)? Basic skills: Compass – works better when training is not during the school day We combined funds with the Ed Tech Grant to train 2 evenings- $75.00 stipend for 3 hours training. Relevant training – teachers actually set up their classes during the training Train the trainer – TIS people followed up in the schools after teachers used the programs and developed questions and problems. SAS training
17. In what areas do you feel your county has not been successful, or barriers that hinder computer training for your staff. Support classrooms after training sessions – TIS Funding for follow-up training Software/hardware (still have Windows 95 that are not supported by Microsoft)
18. What do you feel is your greatest priority to ensure teachers get quality and relevant staff development? 19. What would be a short-term goal to overcoming the obstacles your county has for meeting training needs? 20. In your county, what training is available to your teacher by other sources ( RESA, higher education institutes)? 21. In your opinion, what staff development programs have been successful in your county (either state contract based or other)? Both county provided and state contract based training have been successful. Continuous training on Basic Skills software: Compass (are phasing in Odyssey) SAS training provided by in school trainers SUCCESS training (programs are not consistently used by teachers) Stipends are offered for training after school hours/summer
22. In what areas do you feel your county has not been successful, or barriers that hinder computer training for your staff. 23. What do you feel is your greatest priority to ensure teachers get quality and relevant staff development? 24. What would be a short-term goal to overcoming the obstacles your county has for meeting training needs? 25. In your county, what training is available to your teacher by other sources ( RESA, higher education institutes)? 26. In your opinion, what staff development programs have been successful in your county (either state contract based or other)? Title One Funding used for continuous training SAS and SUCCESS NCLB – Ed Tech Grant provides stipends for training during the summer Riverdeep and Cornerstone (summer and school year) on-site Marco Polo Pomeroy (7-12)
27. In what areas do you feel your county has not been successful, or barriers that hinder computer training for your staff. IS days when we need them Lack of CE days in the calendar (no county control) Staff did not attend training sessions as frequently when no stipends were offered. Train county substitutes
28. What do you feel is your greatest priority to ensure teachers get quality and relevant staff development? Time factor: more days for staff development directed towards technology – At the beginning of the school year CE is focused on Math, CSO’s, etc. TIS staff to help teachers in the schools
29. What would be a short-term goal to overcoming the obstacles your county has for meeting training needs? 30. In your county, what training is available to your teacher by other sources ( RESA, higher education institutes)? Work with Concord and WVU for graduate classes Monitoring system: evaluations Riverdeep can by monitored by the principal and the tech coordinator
31. In your opinion, what staff development programs have been successful in your county (either state contract based or other)? Compass – basic skills training, followed up on-site. Instructor sets up in the lab and teachers go in during their planning to receive instruction or have questioned answered. SAS and SUCCESS not used as much as we want to
32. In what areas do you feel your county has not been successful, or barriers that hinder computer training for your staff. Money for stipends and substitutes Lack of TIS no requirements for tech. training during CE No formal evaluation for monitoring usage.
33. What do you feel is your greatest priority to ensure teachers get quality and relevant staff development? 34. What would be a short-term goal to overcoming the obstacles your county has for meeting training needs? 35. In your county, what training is available to your teacher by other sources ( RESA, higher education institutes)? 36. In your opinion, what staff development programs have been successful in your county (either state contract based or other)? Extensive summer training, we use local people (great resource) Title II and Step 7 is used for funding and stipends.. State contracts: Odyssey – phasing in Odyssey to replace Compass, Sysop Training (IBM). I-Know Training, Teachers are paid $150.00 per day for training
37. In what areas do you feel your county has not been successful, or barriers that hinder computer training for your staff. Time – we offer so much summer/after school. Would like to have funding to provide substitutes and have on-site training during school hours to ensure 100% participation CE – everyone in the county has 3 hours of tech. CE – majority has 6+ (no requirements)
38. What do you feel is your greatest priority to ensure teachers get quality and relevant staff development? 39. What would be a short-term goal to overcoming the obstacles your county has for meeting training needs? 40. In your county, what training is available to your teacher by other sources ( RESA, higher education institutes)? | 
