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Using Technology in Professional Development from the Return on Investment Perspective

What is Technology Guided Professional Development?

In a global economy, with ever changing technologies teachers need to prepare themselves and their students to have ingenuity and creativity to meet the needs of the 21^st century. The trend of technology guided professional development, integrating new technologies such as online courses, online tutorials, and personal learning networks (PLNs), is consistently growing in popularity. Teachers are able to access resources from around the world to assist with their PD. The fact that PD is so easily accessible and adaptable also allows for it to be personalized to the individual needs of the teacher as well as the needs of the district.

Why Is Using Technology in Educator PD A Current Trend? What Are the Effects on Return On Investment (ROI)?

Professional development (PD) is an integral part of teacher effectiveness in education.  New policies, technologies, professional growth plans and changing educational avenues are requiring teachers and school leaders to embrace new technologies and have the willingness to change to meet the diverse needs of the education sector in order to prepare students for their future. School districts analyze PD and the impact is has on the teachers and students in the classroom through evaluation of return on investment (ROI).  With the seemingly decreasing budgets for educational organizations and the increase of new technologies it is very important that educational leaders evaluate ROI carefully as to not waste district funds for PD. Using technology in educator PD has allowed districts to cut costs associated with traditional forms of PD, such as travel expenses, including mileage, hotels, and food purchases, as well as additional money for substitutes during these times. Technology allows for educators to save time, by creating flexibility for teachers to learn at their own pace and decide what meets their personal goals or the goals of the school for the focus of their PD. The key to success for all professional development is simplistic goals, proper support, adequate time to implement and observe ROI and monitor implementation and feedback

Implementation of Technology Guided PD from the ROI Perspective

Technology has given the opportunity to and even inspired educators to teach one another on their own time through edcamps, communicate via social media platforms, and work together through online collaboratives. One way ROI is measured is through teacher effectiveness, by analyzing data such as student achievement on standardized tests, performance-based observations, value-added modeling, and student growth percentiles. Technology guided PD allows teachers in rural areas or poorer districts the ability to participate in beneficial PD from their computer, which they would not have otherwise been able to attend. This increases the amount of teachers that can gain effectiveness through online PD.

Key Issues with Technology Guided PD from the ROI Perspective

Technology integration is an investment in the change of a school's culture to adopt and revere technology, not just and investment of time and money. The key challenges faced are the unwillingness to change or try to techniques from veteran teachers, or the resources to support the initiatives of the teacher or the school. Many teachers are not willing to try new technologies in the classroom if they do not feel confident with the application, if there is a lack of support for the use of the technology, or if they did not choose it themselves. Technology guided PD can be measure through increased teacher productivity, improved differentiation of instruction, impact on instructional practices, and influence on student learning, observable through classroom walk-through(s), student reflections, examples of student work, and growth on behalf of the student and educator. If not done correctly, costs of implementation of technology could be more costly and the ROI could be negative.  For this reason, planning and preparation of technology needs to be thorough to avoid a technology failure. To achieve a positive ROI on technology PD a district must start out by only implementing technology in large investments, rather than trying to implement every new thing that pops up.

Related Research for Technology Guided PD from the ROI Perspective

Hanover Research.  (2014). Professional development for technology integration.  Retrieved from https://ts.madison.k12.wi.us/files/techsvc/Professional%20Development%20for%20Technology%20Integration.pdf.

Heick, T.  (2018). How rapid technology change impacts your teaching.  Teach Thought. Retrieved from https://www.teachthought.com/technology/5-ways-rapid-technology-change-impacts-education/.

Graham, K.  (2015). Measuring return on investment for technology.  Idealware.  Retrieved from https://www.idealware.org/measuring-return-investment-technology/.

Hanover Research. (2014). Professional development for technology integration. Retrieved from https://ts.madison.k12.wi.us/files/techsvc/Professional%20Development%20for%20Technology%20Integration.pdf.

Logan, L.  (n.d.). 5 ways tech has changed professional development.  Amplify. Retrieved from https://www.amplify.com/viewpoints/5-ways-tech-has-changed-professional-development.

Mazella, N.  (2011). What are we learning about technology integration and professional development?  Educator’s Voice.  Retrieved from https://www.nysut.org/~/media/files/nysut/resources/2011/march/educators-voice-4-technology/edvoiceiv_ch7.pdf?la=en.

Metiri Group. (2010). Professional development: Ensuring a return on your investment.  INTEL. Retrieved from https://www.intel.com/content/dam/doc/white-paper/education-professional-development-paper.pdf.

Peterson, T.  (2016). Technology starts with professional development and training.  EdTech Focus on K-12.  Retrieved from https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2016/06/technology-starts-professional-development-and-training.

Rogoff, L.  (2015). Technology and professional development: Trends, challenges and empowerment.  Teachstone. Retrieved from http://info.teachstone.com/blog/technology-professional-development-trends-challenges-empowerment.

Sabzian, F. & Gilakjani, A. P.  (2013). Teachers’ attitudes about computer technology training, professional development, integration, experience, anxiety, and literacy in English language teaching and learning.  International Journal of Applied Science and Technology.  Retrieved from http://ijastnet.com/journals/Vol_3_No_1_January_2013/9.pdf.

The U.S. Department of Education.  Reimagining the role of technology in education: 2017 national education technology plan update.  Retrieved from https://tech.ed.gov/files/2017/01/NETP17.pdf.

Recommended Resources for Technology Guided PD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZXP02Az6ds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puiNcIFJTCU

https://tech.ed.gov/netp/teaching/

http://gamedesk.org/project/professional-development/

http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/

http://schools.bloomboard.com/