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=Welcome to the ICT: Teaching the Teacher Wiki =

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**Why we need to teach the teacher ICT:** The rapid rise of technology use by students is compelling teachers to become more adept at also using it. Teacher ICT professional development in schools is often adhoc and poorly orchestrated. Most teachers feel the requirement to use ICT tools in their teaching programmes but often lack skills or the confidence to do so effectively. ======

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**E-Learning offers Professional Development solutions for teachers:** E-learning can help time poor teachers faced with an increasing array of ICT tools and insufficient professional development in their schools. This wiki will explore e-learning issues and experiences for teachers learning ICT, it will also present some solutions and ideas for teacher ICT professional development. ======


 * == What are the issues surrounding current ICT teacher professional development in New Zealand? ==
 * [[image:help.jpg]] || New Zealand teachers are using ICT in classrooms but to varying degrees.

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Most New Zealand teachers now have laptop for their professional use; many have a projector or interactive whiteboard in their classroom. Some teachers are very reliant on their laptop for planning, delivery, assessment and administration. These users are confident of their own ICT skills and willing to explore new technologies and integrate them into their teaching. Others are less adept users; they are usually characterised as older teachers more confident with their proven traditional classroom teaching methods. They know they need to use technology in their job but can become anxious and frustrated when faced with unfamiliar equipment and software. =====

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New and younger teachers who are usually fairly confident with ICT equipment can find themselves needing ICT training support at times, for example; when entering a new school. They need ICT training material relevant to the school and the equipment they are required to use for teaching. Different groups of users require programmes tailored to their particular skill set and subject area. ===== ||
 * ICT coordinators and subject teachers are usually left to plan and run ICT professional development in schools. Planning for professional development sessions can be difficult as teachers have a wide range of skills and needs dependant on their subject area and ICT competence. These in house experts often have professional development needs of their own, that are not met while they are spending time upskilling others. Consultants from universities and other organisations run few ICT training courses for teachers and the courses they do run can be hurried with little relevance to the level and subject areas for teachers.

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Teachers need the flexibility to choose what they want to learn and when. They need instructions that they can work through at their own pace, relevant to the scholastic level and subjects they teach. E-Learning can offer professional development solutions to a wide range of teachers. Competent users can extend their knowledge quickly and older teachers shy about displaying their ICT skills can work at their own pace, privately, anywhere and at anytime. ===== ||