Stewart, J. B. (2005). The Effect of Adult Learning Focused Technology Training on Learning, Retention, and Attitude Towards Technology Staff Development. Instructional Technology Monographs 1 (1). Retrieved <insert date>, from http://itm.coe.uga.edu/archives
/spring2005/jstewart.htm.

 

The Effect of Adult Learning Focused Technology Training on Learning, Retention, and Attitude Towards Technology Staff Development

by

James B. Stewart
University of Georgia

Abstract

Current research shows that adults learn technology differently then do their younger counterparts. Current adult learning theory states that adults are better learners when given flexible yet meaningful instruction. Going further, adult learners appreciate timely support in the form of learning groups and individual assistance. During this study, I divided participants into two groups: traditional instruction and adult-learning focused instruction. Each group participated in approximately six weeks of technology training followed by two performance assessments designed to measure the breadth of learning and retention. The results of two performance assessments failed to show any differences in the two groups. However, the adult learning focused group was more successful at applying their knowledge. Likewise, the adult learning group ended the study with a more positive attitude towards technology training.

 

Literature Review Methods Results and Discussion Conclusions References

 

Introduction

Think back to the months preceding your sixteenth birthday. The excitement of earning a driver’s license was almost overwhelming. Most likely, you spent a great deal of time learning the finer points of becoming a capable driver. Through experimentation and some direct instruction you learned that driving involved many processes that had to be integrated into one seamless operation. At first, you conscientiously thought about each step and maybe even approached the whole affair with trepidation. After a few months, you became confident in the use of all the driving techniques you learned and eventually, you became the driver you are today. Imagine now that your driving instructor thought that the most important part of being a responsible drive was parallel parking and you spent all of your time and effort learning how to become a parallel parking expert. More than likely, your current driving experience would be quite different because you concentrated on only one aspect of driving. Without knowledge of other important aspects of driving and how to integrate those aspects into high-quality driving skills, you would have struggled to earn that all-important license.

Unfortunately, the driving analogy is similar to the experience that many educators find when completing technology training. From my own experience, most technology training focuses simply on “how to” rather than how the technology can be used to increase student learning. For this reason, teachers fail to see relevance of the technology, and more importantly, how the technology can be integrated into their daily classroom experience to improve learning and to increase the motivation of their students.

The school being examined in this study is a large public suburban school in the southeastern United States. It recently underwent a massive technology upgrade. Educators at the school have a unique opportunity to use advanced technology to make a significant impact on the way students learn. For the first time in school history, teachers have multiple computers in their classrooms, access to ample computer laboratories and mobile laptop carts (all with a high speed internet connection), course-specific software, and many productivity tools designed to make teaching more efficient. Teachers have received a great deal of instruction in the form of how-to staff development. Unfortunately, the staff development sessions failed to spark interest in the staff and, in turn, the teachers are not only failing to use the technology, but are also failing to see the potential of technology in the classroom. Therein lies the problem. Because the focus of the training sessions concentrated on teaching staff members the ins and outs of software, most teachers had a difficult time visualizing ways to apply what they were learning. For some teachers, these past several months have been frustrating as they find themselves in unfamiliar territory and unfamiliar situations. In a way, many have become students again as they attempt to learn how to use the numerous tools at their disposal. Based on current research regarding staff development and adult learning theories, the faculty and students would benefit from a major shift in technology training that focuses on how technology can best be used to improve student learning and motivation.

As staff development becomes more important in the local school districts, designers are focusing more and more on adult learning. Many staff development designers are examining the question “what is meant by adult learning and how does it differ from the traditional staff development models that have dominated technology related staff development for the preceding few decades?” The most simplistic way to contrast adult learning with pedagogy is to assert that adult learning provides a greater opportunity for learners to involve themselves in activities that correspond with the learner’s interests, needs, learning styles, and developmental stage.

Most would agree with the assumption that educators are a unique group of adult learners. Teachers are professionals with extensive experience in educational practice. During the course of their formal education, most educators have proven themselves as capable adult learners with a wide range of experiences they bring to any training program. These experiences affect how they learn. While reviewing the literature on adult learning, many common descriptors emerge that must be considered when designing technology staff development.

 

 

Literature Review

 

Without Technology Our Children Will Be Left Behind

Driven by No Child Left Behind, local school systems are focusing on standards and accountability to show that a certified and qualified teacher teaches every child (US Department of Education [USDOE], 2005). The National Staff Development Council has proposed an additional goal: that all teachers in every school should receive quality professional learning by 2007 (National Staff Development Council [NSDC], 2005). For that reason, effective staff development is more important than ever. Results-driven education for students will require results-driven staff development for educators. The success of a staff development class will be judged not by how many teachers and administrators participate in staff development programs or how they perceive its significance, but by whether it changes instructional behavior in a way that benefits students (Salpeter 2003). The primary goal of any staff development and other improvement efforts should always be improved performance by students, staff, and the organization (Salpeter 2003).

In its January 2003 report, “No Dream Denied: A Pledge to America's Children”, the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future argues that the primary challenge schools face in their search for competent teachers is not recruiting, but retention (Hunt, 2003). According to NCTAF, the key to retaining qualified teachers is effective staff development. The missing ingredient is finding a way for school systems to organize the work of qualified teachers so they can collaborate with their colleagues in developing strong learning communities that will sustain them as they become more accomplished teachers (Hunt, 2003).

When Teachers Become Students

While many staff development designers contend that the reluctance to use new technologies is simply rooted in a lack of skill and confidence, there is evidence from Becker (1999) and Fullan (1996) that teachers need to be recruited to change. The participants must be convinced of the significance of the new activities and then given ample time to work on teams to invent effective lessons (Becker, 1999). In many schools, teachers operate as islands. Teachers are isolated from each other and preoccupied with what Fullan (1996) calls "the daily press" of getting through their schedule. They are focused, according to Becker, on objectives. Many of these educators are likely to pursue to the habitual customs they have enjoyed in the past until they are equipped and encouraged to find a suitable and dependable replacement (Becker, 1999).

Face-to-face presentations, some of them including hands-on lab sessions, are still at the basis for most staff development programs involving technology (Salpeter, 2003). However, in recent years there has been a call to modify these staff development sessions. The focus of most technology staff development is the how-to of technology, but the time has come to change that (Bents & Howey, 1981). The focus now should be on instructional strategies and needs. In other words, how do you use technology to improve student achievement? Teachers trained in one mind-set sometimes find themselves stagnated into traditional lessons and ideas. Put into a new technological environment, they continue to see themselves in terms of what is comfortable and familiar (Deal & Peterson, 1998). The computer, for example, is viewed as a specialized typewriter with superior editing capabilities rather than what it can be. To understand the computer's powerful capabilities, one must take a computer home, live with it, and write with it. Only by embracing the technology can teachers experience the kind of immersion that breaks through superficial understandings to a deeper level of involvement (McKenzie, 1991).

This creative exploration, invention, testing and reflection will require a change in school culture from one that promotes isolation to one that encourages collaboration and provides ample time for staff development. The work of many experts makes it quite clear that the most effective learning strategies require a change in the ways teachers spend their time and the ways that they work together (Deal & Kent, 1998; Fullan, 1991; Joyce, 1990; Lieberman & Miller, 1990). Frequently these researchers have noticed how informal support systems, partnerships, teams and other collaborative structures may be the most important elements in any massive change effort.

Staff development can make a powerful difference in performance of both students and teachers. According to Joyce and Showers (1983), effective programs require sustained, ongoing efforts with proper funding. Participants must be acquainted with what Joyce (1983) calls the problem of transfer. As teachers learn new skills and attitudes, they should consider the obstacles to make these skills work in their classrooms (Joyce & Showers, 1983). Before trying the new skills in their classrooms, teachers should have ample opportunity to practice the skills in relatively controlled and safe environments until a significant degree of confidence and "executive control" has been maintained (1983). Executive control refers to teachers learning how to learn and how to transfer new technologies to their classroom. Over succeeding weeks and months, coaching by peers and sustained practice are essential if the new approaches are to take root (1983).

James Hunt (2005) makes the distinction between two major kinds of staff development. The more popular model is concerned with changes in specific teaching behaviors and strategies. The second type of staff development is concerned with the shifting of the structure of a teacher's educational perspective and belief system—this type of training almost always requires immersion (Hunt, 2005). This approach involves the recognition that teachers are adult learners with individual learning styles, different stages of development, and quite divergent interests and needs (Bents & Howey, 1981). The challenge to the training developer is to provide a seminar that strives to match learners with their experiences.

To support such a change, schools need to apply a different model of adult learning (McKenzie, 1991). The historical solution to the problem of changing teacher behaviors - traditional staff development - cannot begin to meet this challenge. At worst, staff development is a waste of time and resources (1991). Many teachers can tell horror stories of being crowded into hot rooms to hear some outside expert describe the latest trend in education. In many school systems the obligatory technology staff development occurs once per year and does little or no good getting teachers excited about using technology (1991). In other districts, teachers gather after a full day of teaching for workshops with the same result. These workshops often give teachers inadequate opportunity to practice new skills and offer little or no ongoing support or follow-through during the next several months. As a result, there is frequently negligible transfer of the new skills from the workshops to the classrooms. Teachers sometimes see exciting demonstrations of new techniques, but they rarely experience the immersion that would allow them to master the new techniques (1991).

The Past Informs the Future

Much too often, teachers sit passively listening to technology staff development messages. The assumption seems to be that one quick look at a new method or approach is sufficient to empower the audience to use the technology to make significant changes in their classrooms (McKenzie, 1991). Important changes in beliefs and behavior depend upon active involvement, experience and role-playing. Active involvement in exploration, which results from struggling with experiences and attempting to integrate them into an understanding, leads teachers to feel more committed to the process of changing their perspective (1991).

Adult learners exist in situations separate from the learning context. They are motivated to learn by changes in their situations and learn best when new concepts apply in practical ways and/or are relevant to the changes in their situations (Merriam & Caffarella, 2001). Going further, adults tend to be problem-centered learners rather than subject-centered learners and learn best when confronted with practical applications of what they have learned (2001). Unlike the most current training models, adult learning is primarily concerned with creating the conditions, as well as the motivation to transfer new tools and skills into daily practice. While traditional training usually occurs outside of context and frequently ignores issues of transfer, adult learning is all about combining practice with context (Smith, 1982). Adult learning should help learners identify obstacles to implementing new tools and skills and plan for removing those obstacles (1982).

Where We Are In Life Determines Where We Will Go

Adults learn throughout their lives. Contrary to widely held belief, age does not reduce a person's ability to learn but may reduce the speed at which learning takes place (Zemke, 1988). In addition, because of time elapsed since earlier learning experiences, many adults underestimate their own abilities to learn and may need additional time to adjust to new learning conditions. Adults exhibit a variety of learning styles at different times for different reasons. Consequently, there is no one right way of learning for everyone. The adult learner is a person with a well-developed sense of self, that combines all experiences, both personal and professional, to affect new learning. Previous experience affects what the learner understands and is the foundation for current learning. Adults learn best when new content is presented in a manner that is closely tied to previous knowledge and current situation (Zemke & Zemke, 1988).

Adult learners' stages of development, whether personal (cognitive, moral, ego, conceptual), chronological (early adulthood, mid-life, etc.) or professional (new or experienced teacher, etc.), profoundly affect their learning. The optimum role of the adult learner is that of a self-directed, self-motivated manager of personal learning who collaborates as an active participant in the learning process and takes responsibility for learning (Merriam, 2001). The adult learner controls what is learned, selects new information and decides how to use it. Adult learners must be treated as adults and respected as self-directed learners. They learn best in non-threatening environments of trust and mutual respect (Zemke & Zemke, 1998).

Staff development must appeal to learners at a variety of developmental stages.

Teachers coming to sessions differ with regard to their stage of development as teachers, their stage of life as adults and their level of concern about specific technology. These differences can ultimately encumber or deeply support learning, depending on the match between learning experience and learner stage. In a perfect situation, teachers should be allowed to select from a list of courses. The list should describe the types of activities that will occur in each course. This process of selection increases the probability of a good fit between learner and course and works to create a highly motivated adult learner (Zemke & Zemke, 1998 ).

Grow the Individual to Grow the Organization

Adult learners have the ability to assess their own strength and weaknesses. As a result, some school districts have found that initiating a program that allows teachers to reflect on their abilities has resulted in high levels of teacher buy-in. A key component of such a program is the professional growth plan (PGP) (McKenzie, 1991). This document becomes the road map to guide each teacher’s learning during the year and helps the principal to be an effective supervisor, providing resources, training and other support as needed.

The process begins with assessment. Where am I now? Perhaps each person completes a survey like the Mankato Scale which is available online (http://www.bham.wednet.edu/tcomp.htm). This activity helps them identify areas deserving the most attention. The teacher then selects from a rich and varied menu of opportunities to help them meet their goals. Typically, the teacher lists 2-3 main areas for growth along with the activities most likely to promote the growth. One goal might be to acquire the technology and instructional skills to launch classroom research projects using a model such as WebQuests or Problem Based Learning Activities. If the district has made a major investment in new technologies, all teachers might be asked to include a technology integration goal (Becker, 1996; Fullan, 1991). Each person commits to try new skills and tools with students in classrooms. The building administrator commits resources and support. They meet regularly to discuss progress.

To Win With Technology, Coaching is Essential

The use of study groups has been shown to be an effective way to promote adult learning. Teachers gather in small groups of their own choosing to meet on a weekly basis for an hour or more to pursue shared growth goals as listed in their PGPs. Together, they determine the best path toward completion of the goals. In keeping with the tenets of adult learning, teachers learn best when they can make choices in content, pacing and styles while enjoying the support of a team of like-minded fellow learners. Carlene Murphy, Dale Lick and others have developed and tested study group models that fruitfully engage every teacher in such activities (Murphy & Lick, 1998).

One example of a team is a Curriculum and Development team. When teams of teachers gather to build standards-based units that they can actually use with their students, some remarkable technology learning takes place. These groups are particularly effective when skeptical teachers are on the same team with early adopting, enthusiastic teachers (Murphy & Lick, 1998). Just as novice musicians and artists benefit from the support of more experienced players and painters, most schools find that teachers can make excellent progress with the types of learning associated with new technologies if they have skilled partners working alongside during the lesson development and implementation stages (McKenzie 1998). Some districts assign classroom teachers to this mentor and coaching role full time for a year or more so that classroom teachers have a built-in support system to take them through the most difficult early stages. The mentor’s involvement involves scaffolding new learning and then fading the assistance as the novice teacher develops skill and confidence.

Using a similar approach, schools create leadership cadres with a broad mix of teacher types who take the time and trouble to explore new practices and sort through the often inflated claims to help the rest of the teachers focus their learning on opportunities worth pursuing (McKenzie, 1998). The cadre becomes a prime aspect of planning the professional development opportunities to be offered to the rest of the staff. In Omaha, Nebraska, schools made peer coaching and the cadre a key ingredient of its highly successful grant supported project, "the Learning Web." Invention teams from surrounding school districts gather each summer to invent curriculum units with strong technology elements (McKenzie 1998).

While technology plans and mentors are very important aspects of adult technology training, many teachers feel intimidated when using technology related resources independently. Many schools are working to make assistance available on a day-to-day basis so that any teacher, who is frustrated, blocked or having difficulties is likely to find help within just a few minutes. Instead of relying upon a few specialists who will never seem available, the school makes sure that one third of the staff is quite good at something and can be called upon to support colleagues who are looking for guidance, encouragement and timely trouble-shooting assistance (McKenzie 1998).

Perhaps the biggest thing that has changed about technology-related professional development over the years is the recognition that it needs to be ongoing. Monica Beglau (1998), instructional program leader for Missouri's statewide eMINTS (Enhancing Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies) program, agrees strongly with the need for sustained professional development. She insists that any sort of technology training must be followed up with support and mentoring. One tool is the classroom visit. These visits help teachers translate what they learn in professional development sessions into actual classroom practice; this is the piece that seems to be missing in most professional development programs (Beglau, 1998).

Technology can be an important tool to help with collegiality and sustained learning. As the NCTAF author of No Dream Denied put it, "Technology is perhaps the most important-and most underutilized-tool for providing teachers access to the targeted professional development they need, when and how they need it. Online courses, informal support groups, and other network-supported resources open the door to professional development opportunities far beyond what any school or district might be able to offer (Hunt, 2005)."

According to research conducted by Bruce Joyce and Beverly Showers (1988), coaching may be the most effective way to convert reluctant colleagues into enthusiastic users of new technologies. Technology training programs that emphasize coaching and mentoring encourage the growth of both technology enthusiasts as well as the technology challenged. The driving force behind this method is the customization made possible when a coach or mentor works alongside individuals (Joyce & Showers, 1988). The training methods are matched to the skill level and preferences of each teacher. Technologies are infused in ways that support teacher goals and student learning (Joyce & Showers, 1988).

To launch a coaching program, a district sets aside funding for full time staff positions that are meant to last anywhere from 3-5 years. Each coach can team with 20-35 teachers per year in projects that last anywhere from one to two weeks. The goal is to reach every teacher within a 3-5 year time period in a succession of waves. Each project begins with planning sessions during which the coach and the partner identify a chunk of curriculum that might be well served by the use of electronic technologies. The coach and the teacher then develop and implement a unit plan to implement and test as a team (Joyce & Showers, 1988).

When compared to other adult learning strategies, peer coaching has the greatest chance of changing teacher behaviors. At the same time, we have learned that some coaching and mentor programs work better than others. Factors associated with success include the following: effective mentors, planning, respect, clear expectations, support, customization, and time (Joyce and Showers 1983).

The most effective coaches put their partners at ease. While it is sometimes tempting to hire the most technologically advanced people as coaches, the most important criteria have to do with the diplomacy, tact and relationship building necessary to earn the trust of partners. In many cases, a mentor’s superior attitude and performance might actually hamper the building of important relationships with their colleagues (Joyce and Showers 1983).

Effective mentors must have the ability to plan for technology use with the colleague. It is not uncommon for classroom teachers to view the mentor as someone to teach technology to the students (Joyce, 1990). Instead of participating as full partners in the design and delivery of technology rich lessons, they might prefer to sit at the back of the room while the coach elucidates the technology involved in the lesson. It is the mentor’s job to make clear that the teacher will always remain the teacher. Coaches are not substitutes. They are partners. Both the coach and the partner must feel shared responsibility for the technology infused lessons. Both participate in the development and the testing of lessons (Joyce and Showers, 1988).

Coaches must be cautious about attitude. Many teachers who do not make much use of electronic tools are extraordinarily effective and talented professionals. If coaches view their role as correcting deficiencies, the chances of creating trusting partnerships are remote.

According to McKenzie (1991), the time it takes to invent technology rich units intensifies the shared ownership of the project. For each week long unit to be developed and implemented, the coach and the partner will need as much as a day away from pressing classroom demands to work on the lesson planning. Joint planning time is essential. Without the common planning time, it is easy for the coach to step in with lessons created without the partner's engagement (McKenzie, 1991). The coach contributes encouragement as well as knowledge to help the partner find new ways to use technology in the classroom to achieve success. The collaboration partner contributes curriculum savvy and experience to guide the planning process. This is a case of mutual support as two professionals consider the best ways to blend new technologies into classroom life (McKenzie, 1991).

Coaching is not about showing teachers to teach the way the coach would teach. The coach empowers the partner to make use of technologies in ways that mesh with the collaborators teaching style. Going further, one goal of an effective coach should be to expand his or her partner’s instructional tool-kit (Joyce, 1990). Those who have relied mostly on direct instruction may come to value the student learning that can result when students are required to do more of the work.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Wonder and Excitement

In order to promote change in attitude and perspective, the learning experience must harness a teacher’s passion. All too many technology training sessions are at best boring and dry. There is often little attempt to relate the learning to the questions, doubts, and beliefs that drive the learners. Attention to dramatics, body language, energy level and strategies for welcoming the questions of learners will kindle enthusiastic involvement in the course (McKenzie, 1991).

None too often, technology training stops after showing teachers menus and scripts. The predominant message seems to be that there is only one way to use technology in the classroom. There is usually little time allocated to script writing, lesson development and the invention of technology-rich units. As a consequence, the individual develops dependency upon routines designed and presented by others. In contrast, Bard William's (1993) "innovation-based" model assists participants in discovering the excitement and potentials of new technologies. "How can you use this CD and its 1000 videos to reach your human anatomy students? How might it change their learning? How will it change attitudes toward science?" (1993).

Emphasis on skill development usually leads to training agendas that are over ambitious as the instructor tries to present hundreds of functions, tricks or features per half hour. According to Bard Williams (1993), it is much better to cover fewer functions and leave at least half of the time for individual a group planning for how the technology will be integrated into classroom practice. In order to make significant changes in teachers’ attitudes they must be given the opportunity to ask important questions such as the following: What does this mean to my classroom? How will it improve student achievement? What needs to be changed? How can I make it work? (Williams 1993).

Sprinthall and Sprinthall (1980) have proposed a model for staff development that blends immersion and reflection. Their model emphasizes the significance of learning through active involvement in real situations, an appropriate match of teacher levels of development with experience, continuous guided reflection, extension of the program over a significant period of time (two to three years), and the provision of personal support for the learner, along with a reasonable level of challenge. Bents and Howey (1981) offer a demonstration of how a teacher might translate this approach into staff development. They also explain how staff development can be adjusted to respond to the different levels of concern teachers may have regarding specific innovations.

Reflection plays an important role in adult learning. Simmons and Schuette (1988) suggest that the current paradigm for teachers is that of teacher as reflective practitioner--one who makes instructional decisions consciously and tentatively, critically considers a full range of pertinent contextual and pedagogical factors, actively seeks evidence about the results, and continues to modify these decisions as the situation warrants (1988). New learning should be followed by reflection to facilitate incorporation and application of new knowledge and/or skills. After all, the effectiveness of any training program is judged by what happens in the classroom when the training is complete. Continued learning depends on achieving satisfaction, especially in the sense of making progress toward learning goals that reflect the learner's own goals (1988).

As stated in the opening section of this paper, adult learners must be involved in the planning of their learning. Training designers must involve teachers substantially in the planning of their continuing education, identifying the types of courses teachers’ desire by using interviews and surveys as well as inclusion of teachers on planning committees. Evaluations of courses should be completed routinely by participants so that the staff developer can identify which elements and strategies are most effective, as well as which courses address teacher interests and concerns. A shift from the current attitude of “you need this to be a better teacher” to a more congenial attitude is needed as some teachers resist being told that they are not satisfactory (McKenzie, 1991).

Especially when they are breaking new ground, exploring new territory or trying new technologies, many teachers will feel some degree of anxiety (McKenzie, 1991). Like the beginning driver’s first trip alone, teachers may experience heavier breathing and a sense of risk. The staff development designer, instructor or group leader should have specific strategies for identifying anxious learners as well as strategies for easing their anxieties (1991). Similarly, staff developers have noticed that when new technology is presented, teachers have an early burnout stage when they become saturated with new knowledge (1991). Pacing becomes an essential issue. When having to decide between the amount of material to present and learner comfort, it pays off to lean towards learner comfort. In teaching spreadsheet construction, for example, it is smart to teach beginners five or six commands in the initial lesson, just enough to support them in creating a functional spreadsheet. Once they understand the commands, they should practice until they all announce, "This is easy!" Additional commands and directives are presented in small doses that support the self-efficacy of the learners.

Support for the Skeptics

Many times teachers fail to use technology in the classroom because they do not want to appear unprepared in front of their technology savvy students. These teachers could benefit from a form of staff development called “just-in-time support”—a tool that is readily available when the need arises. Sometime the technology used is as simple as a PowerPoint presentation or a PDF file with textual instructions and diagrams. In Richmond, however, a new technology tool-one customized for the district by Sonic Foundry, the maker of Mediasite Live-is helping professional development instructors turn live presentations into online multimedia workshops for just-in-time learning. Richmond's WebCast Academy grew out of concerns about scheduling and release-time problems that made it difficult for teachers to attend workshops at times convenient to them. Since January 2003, the Richmond school district has been offering its most popular presentations in a lab where the voice and computer displays are recorded digitally. Usually, the sessions are live, with some audience members in the lab and others at remote sites from where they can submit questions via e-mail or use polling software to respond to queries sent by the instructor to their computer screens. Afterward, the session, along with optional extras such as classroom video footage, serves as raw material for the WebCast Academy version of the class.

Another collegial approach that focuses on mentorship and best practices is the type of "lesson study" used effectively for professional development in Japan. The lesson study process, popularized in this country by James W. Stigler and James Hiebert (1999), involves extended observations of individual lessons by groups of educators who then meet to analyze the approaches and outcomes observed. A prototype for this approach was developed in 1999 by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, in collaboration with the Orange County Department of Education, Apple Computer, and several other universities and colleges. Located online at www.gse.uci.edu/cli, the project features videos of exemplary teachers involved in standards-based math instruction, accompanied by commentary that helps practicing and pre-service educators understand the reasoning behind each lesson. According to UCI's Joan Bissell (2000), the site has been used on an experimental basis in preparing new teachers. Preliminary research shows positive impacts of experience with the California Learning Interchange video cases on the teachers' ability to teach mathematical concepts in the elementary grades.

Supplementing this adult support would be support from students — what one media specialist calls her "tech tutors" — students who are taught how to support others in their technology efforts (Salpeter, 2003). Technology staff development need not come solely from adult instructors. Just as many companies are finding that customers can get timely assistance through help desks and online resources, schools could and should provide many more of these kinds of support systems so that teachers can swiftly find answers to commonly asked questions and frequently encountered problems. Unlike most teachers, students do not know a world without computers. The students are an untapped resource in many schools. The willingness to take technology risks may be encouraged by the availability of a friendly person to erase the sense of isolation and frustration (Salpeter, 2003).

Skeptics of technology can see significant shifts in behavior and understanding can occur when they have a chance to see more of the outside world. Typically isolated from new developments in the workplace or in other schools, teachers have little basis for shifting their own behaviors and little opportunity to appreciate technology in practice around them. A day spent behind the scenes in an architectural office, a shipping company, or a newspaper office can help teachers see how technology is used outside of the school walls. Proponents of this type of staff development suggest that teachers spend the first half of the day exploring, watching, questioning, interviewing, and recording the role of information technologies and skills in the organization they are visiting. The second half of the day is devoted to reflection (McKenzie 1991). Teachers are encouraged to ask questions of themselves: "So what? What did we learn? What are the implications for schools and our students? What do we need to do to prepare students for this kind of work?"

Summary

As mentioned earlier, the teachers at this southeastern United States suburban high school are entering into one of the most exciting times in school history. During the past five years, the principal of the school has worked very hard to change the culture of the school from one of isolation to one of collaboration and from teaching to student learning. Combining the change in school culture with a complete upgrade of technology, teachers have a wonderful opportunity to positively increase the level of student learning and student achievement. However, the new technology might be wasted should the teachers continue to receive antiquated technology training and support.

While every school is unique in their school culture, atmosphere, and personnel, there are several facets of adult learning and technology training that the technology team and administration must consider as they plan training and support for their teachers. First, a formal technology growth plan will help teachers stay focused on the areas that they feel are most important to their own professional development. Second, teachers need to be given choices. Motivation tends to remain high when teachers are allowed to choose from an extensive menu of staff development choices. Going further, teachers need to be given continued “just in time” instruction and support in the form of peer and/or student coaches. Busy teachers need to have their problems address in a friendly, non-threatening, and timely manner. Finally, teachers need to have time built into the school day to meet with other teachers and observe tech savvy teachers in action. With proper support and training for the teachers, the potential for increases in student learning and motivation are limitless.

 

Methods

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of including adult-learning theory to technology training. Specifically, I collected data regarding the Dreamweaver content learned, the retention of content, and attitude of the participants towards technology staff development.

Participants

This study took place at a large suburban high school in the southeastern United States. The participants (N=23) were all certified staff at the school and included teachers (N=20), guidance counselors (N=2), and an administrator (N=1). Most participants had completed the Gwinnett Technology Academy for Teachers (GTAT), a general technology training seminar. For the purposes of this study, participants volunteered to participate in a series of Dreamweaver® training seminars to fulfill a technology competency requirement for recertification.

Design and Instruments

Participants were asked to complete a short questionnaire in order to gain some insight regarding the current level of technology use, comfort level using technology, and experience using Dreamweaver (see, Appendix A).

The participants were divided into two groups. One group received traditional instruction regarding the use of Dreamweaver® while the second group received instruction with embedded adult-learning principles. The traditional course was delivered bi-weekly in a face-to-face setting. Each class was instructor focused, and based on an off-the-shelf training manual, Teach Yourself Macromedia Dreamweaver® MX 2004 in 24 Hours (Bruce, 2004). The instruction was the typical “how to” lecture combined with guided practice.

Likewise, the adult learning focused group received training over a four week period. The instruction began with two face-to-face meetings with the remaining sessions completed in an independent study manner. I designed practice scenarios to mimic issues that could arise in the typical school setting. Additionally, participants in the adult learning focused group were assigned to small cooperative learning groups that met face-to-face once each week to discuss issues that arose during their independent study and to discuss possible uses of Dreamweaver®. While the material was presented in a different manner for each group, the content objectives were identical for each version of the seminar. Appendix B outlines the instructional differences in two courses.

Immediately following instruction, the participants were interviewed regarding their feelings about the training process (see, Appendix C). To assess the level of content learned, each participant completed a performance assessment (see, Appendix D). I evaluated each performance assessment using a simple scoring rubric (see, Appendix E). Four weeks after completing the Dreamweaver® training, participants completed the performance assessment for a second time. This round of testing was designed to provide data regarding the retention of content. To conclude this study, I interviewed each participant regarding how he or she had used Dreamweaver® in the time since the instructional phase concluded (see, Appendix F). During the interview I collected the addresses of any websites the participants had created using Dreamweaver®. I checked to see that the site actually existed and evaluated the site for quality.

Data Analysis

I evaluated the data to determine if adult learning focused training resulted in a higher level of learning, higher retention rates, and produced a more positive attitude towards technology staff development. After the participants completed both performance assessments, one immediately following the instruction and another approximately one month after the instruction concluded, I used Microsoft Excel to calculate the average score, the range, and the standard deviation for each test group. The average score on the first performance assessment showed the level at which the groups learned how to use Dreamweaver® while the score on the second assessment showed how much of the content was retained. Finally, based on the results from a survey and individual interview, I gathered gather both qualitative and quantitative data regarding what the subjects thought about their specific mode of training. Specifically, subjects were asked to give their opinions regarding technology staff development, the ease of learning Dreamweaver®, the quality of instruction, use of Dreamweaver®, and the importance of instruction. After reviewing all of the answers to the open ended questions I categorized the responses so I was better able to see trends within each group.

Results and Discussion

Based on the results of the initial technology survey, the two groups involved in this study had a similar level of technology knowledge and years of experience in education (see, Table 1). After completing their Dreamweaver® course, each group completed a performance task designed to assess their knowledge of the application. The group that received the traditional instruction amassed an average score of 24.7 points out of a total of 26 points (SD=1.16) (see, Table 2). On the same test, the adult learning focused group scored an average of 24.4 points (SD=2.10)(see, Table 3). Approximately six weeks after the initial performance assessment, the participants completed a second assessment designed to measure the retention of their Dreamweaver® knowledge. The traditional group scored 24.3 out of a possible 26 points (SD=2.45) while the adult learning focused group scored an average of 23.9 (SD=2.40) (see, Tables 2 and 3).

At the conclusion of the second performance assessment participants completed a perception survey. While the two groups gave similar responses to some questions, there are some important differences in the two study groups (see, Table 4). First, when asked to respond to the statement “I saw practical classroom and personal application for Dreamweaver®”, 93% of the adult learning focused group chose “strongly agree” as opposed to only 30% of the traditional group. When asked to assess the convenience of the training schedule, 86% of the adult learning focused group strongly agreed that the training schedule met their time constraints. Responding to the same question, 30% of the traditional group agreed that the training schedule was convenient. Finally, when participants were asked if they would participant in future technology training if the training used the same format, 79% of the adult learning group responded that they would definitely participate while 40% of the traditional group would participate.

Finally, I interviewed each group to see how they had used Dreamweaver® since the conclusion of their instruction. Approximately 80% of the adult learning group had created either a web site while 50% of the traditional group had created a website. Of those that had created a website, 75% of those in the adult learning group were satisfied with the appearance of their website. Many of these individuals indicated that the cooperative learning groups helped to stimulate creativity. Approximately 60% of the participants in the traditional group who had constructed a website reported that they were satisfied with the appearance of their site. Finally, I led the groups in a discussion of how they had used Dreamweaver® to improve classroom instruction. Every member of the adult learning group reported that they had used Dreamweaver® to supplement classroom instruction. Many participants had designed class web site where they could post important class documents, homework calendars, and communication with students and parents. Several had worked on collaborative internet based projects with members of their course teams. When the same question was posed to the traditional group, approximately 50% of the participants had used Dreamweaver® to improve instruction. The uses were similar to the ones reported by the adult learning group.

 

Conclusions

The data indicates that the type of instruction does not affect the amount of learning or the retention of the learning. It is when one examines the attitude regarding technology training and the application of learned technology that the differences become evident. The majority of the adult learning focused group ended the training session with a positive attitude towards technology training as evidenced by the number of participants who said that they would participate in technology training that followed the same training methods. The participants agreed that they enjoyed the flexibility that the course allowed. Unlike the traditional instruction, the adult learning group focused on ways that Dreamweaver® could be used to improve student learning and instruction. Consequently, members of the adult learning group were more likely to use Dreamweaver® outside the course. Finally, members of the adult learning group enjoyed the collegial aspect of the training. Cooperative work groups provided a forum for asking questions, brainstorming ideas, and designing projects.

Given my results it may be beneficial for instructional designers to consider adult learning theories when planning technology training for educators. The aspects of adult learning that I included in my Dreamweaver® instruction were simple to incorporate and could prove beneficial to other training programs. By focusing on practical applications of technology, creating a convenient training schedule, and providing support in the form of collaborative learning groups I showed that teachers can learn the necessary content but more importantly that they end the training with a positive impression of technology training.

 

References

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Appendixes

Appendix A
Demographic Survey

Classification: Teacher Administrator Counselor Other
If you are a teacher, what is your subject area? __________________
Years of experience in education:__________________
Highest degree attained:___________________________

Have you completed GTAT or the equivalent technology certification course/test option? Yes No

How many technology related professional development courses have you participated in during the past year?

Please indicate your experience with the following applications

1. Internet explorer
___No experience.
___Some experience but I unfamiliar with the use of the application.
___Experienced—I am comfortable using the application.
___Much experience—I could teach others how to use the application.

5. MS Excel—or other spreadsheet application
___No experience.
___Some experience but I unfamiliar with the use of the application.
___Experienced—I am comfortable using the application.
___Much experience—I could teach others how to use the application.

 

2. Lotus notes
___No experience.
___Some experience but I unfamiliar with the use of the application.
___Experienced—I am comfortable using the application.
___Much experience—I could teach others how to use the application.

6. MS PowerPoint
___No experience.
___Some experience but I unfamiliar with the use of the application.
___Experienced—I am comfortable using the application.
___Much experience—I could teach others how to use the application.

3. Inspiration
___No experience.
___Some experience but I unfamiliar with the use of the application.
___Experienced—I am comfortable using the application.
___Much experience—I could teach others how to use the application.

7. Macromedia Dreamweaver
___No experience.
___Some experience but I unfamiliar with the use of the application.
___Experienced—I am comfortable using the application.
___Much experience—I could teach others how to use the application.

4. MS Word—or other word processing application
___No experience.
___Some experience but I unfamiliar with the use of the application.
___Experienced—I am comfortable using the application.
___Much experience—I could teach others how to use the application.

8. ClassXP
___No experience.
___Some experience but I unfamiliar with the use of the application.
___Experienced—I am comfortable using the application.
___Much experience—I could teach others how to use the application.

 

9. Integrade Pro

___No experience.
___Some experience but I unfamiliar with the use of the application.
___Experienced—I am comfortable using the application.
___Much experience—I could teach others how to use the application


Appendix B
Instructional Differences

Traditional Instruction

Day One:
Creating a website, uploading pages, Dreamweaver Desktop,

Day Two:
Page Design, manipulating backgrounds, fonts, special effects.

Day Three:
Links—creating links to external website, anchored links, and imported documents.

Day Four:
Tables

Day Five:
Graphics—using the hotspot tool. Sound

Day Six:
Navigation (drop down menus, etc)

Day Seven:
Site organization, uploading, local and remote views

Day Eight:
Independent Work on Classroom page

Adult Learning Focused Instruction

Day One: What make a good classroom webpage? Look at some good examples and some poor examples. Create a simple web page (change the background color, manipulating fonts, adding a link to an external source). How to save the page.

Day Two: How can a website be used to enhance student learning? Create cooperative learning groups—based on location in the building or on department. Cooperative learning groups will meet once per week to discuss progress and to have “how did you do that” sessions.

Day Three-Eight: Complete the following tutorials at own pace (within the four week period), at convenient time and location. Tutorials: Using graphics, creating navigation, site organization, tables, adding sound, and importing and creating links to external documents. Creating your website and uploading to the NGHS server. All lessons will be based on creating a classroom webpage.

Appendix C
Available online at t http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=257596

//www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=257596
Appendix D
Dreamweaver Assessment

Complete the following tasks. . .

First, log on to your school account and be sure that you have access to your H: drive.

Part I
1. Open Dreamweaver
2. Create a new site that has three pages. **You will not be posting this to the NGHS server so you don’t have to be concerned with the server technology questions.

Part II
3. Call the first page “Index”
4. Change the background color to one of your choice—any color other than white will work.
5. Add a title (in a large font) to this page—“My Index Page”.
6. Under the title, in a different sized font type the words “ North Gwinnett High School”. Link these words to the North Gwinnett Homepage (www.northgwinnett.com)

Part III
7. Open the second page. Call this page “page 2”.
8. Add a title (in a large font) to this page—“Navigation Tools”
9. Create a table that has 2 rows and three columns.
10. Change the background color of the first row of cells. You pick the color. Again, any color other than white will work.
11. Use the first row of cells to create a simple navigation menu for your web site. Create links to the other pages in your site. It should look similarly to the following when you are finished. . .

Index Page 2 Page 3
Document 1 Document 2 Document 3

12. In the second row of the table, create links to three small, previously created documents you have saved in your Hydride. It doesn’t matter which documents you use. Make sure you import the documents into your site.

Part IV
13. Open the third page. Call this page “page 3”.
14. Add a title (in a large font) to this page—“Graphics”.
15. Create a drop down menu to this page. Create links to the other pages in your site as well as one to the North Gwinnett homepage.
16. Using vectors, create a simple drawing of a house. Make sure that your house has a door!
17. Make the door a hotspot that links www.uga.edu.
18. From the North Gwinnett website, import the NGHS seal and put it on your page. Center the graphic on the page.

Part V
19. Organize your site into three folders: pages, graphics, and documents.
20. Save your site for evaluation.


Appendix E
Scoring Rubric
(All questions are worth 1 points unless otherwise noted)

 

Completed Independently (Full Credit)

Completed with minimal assistance (Half Credit)

Not completed or Completed with extensive assistance ( No Credit)

Part I

     

Open Dreamweaver.

     

Created 3 page site. (2 points)

     

Part II

     

Page correctly titled.

     

Background color changed.

     

Page correctly labeled “My Index Page”.

     

North Gwinnett link works correctly.

     

Part III

     

Page correctly titled.

     

Page correctly labeled “Navigation Tools”.

     

Table created correctly with the right number of rows and columns. (2 points)

     

Background color in first row is changed.

     

Navigation menu works correctly. (2 points)

     

Documents are correctly linked.

     

Documents are imported correctly.

     

Part IV

     

Page correctly titled.

     

Page correctly labeled “Graphics”.

     

Drop Down menu is correctly created including working links. (2 points)

     

Drawing of a house is included.

     

The door is a hot spot.

     

The hot spot link works correctly.

     

Graphic correctly imported.

     

Graphic centered.

     

Part V

     

Site is organized into folders

     


Appendix F
Interview Questions:

  1. Have you created a Dreamweaver Website? If no, proceed to question 7.
  2. Did you create a site for personal or professional use?
  3. How often do you update your website?
  4. Are you satisfied with the appearance of your site?
  5. Is there anything you would like to do with your website that you don’t feel comfortable doing now?
  6. How have you used Dreamweaver to supplement your daily classroom teaching?
  7. What type of support do you need in order to begin creating your website?


Appendix G
Scoring Rubric for Website Evaluation

Category 3 2 1 0

Attractiveness

Makes excellent use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance the website.

Makes good use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance website.

Makes use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. but occasionally these detract from the website.

Use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. but these often distract from the website.

Organization

Content is well organized using headings or bulleted lists to group related material.

Uses headings or bulleted lists to organize, but the overall organization of topics appears flawed.

Content is logically organized for the most part.

There was no clear or logical organizational structure, just lots of facts.

Originality

Product shows a large amount of original thought. Ideas are creative and inventive.

Product shows some original thought. Work shows new ideas and insights.

Uses other people's ideas (giving them credit), but there is little evidence of original thinking.

Uses other people's ideas, but does not give them credit.

Navigational Links

All Links are active

Most Links are active

Some links are active

None of the links are active

Navigation Within The Site

Navigation within the site is completely intuitive. Each page contains a navigation menu.

Navigation within the site is somewhat self explanatory. A navigation menu is missing from some pages.

Navigation within the site is present but takes much thought to operate. Navigation menus are absent from most pages.

Navigation menus are absent from the website.

Is the Site Updated?

Yes, all the information on the site is current.

Most of the information on the site is current.

Some of the information on the site is current.

None of the information the site is current.


Table 1
Biographical Information for Study Participants

Adult Learning Focused Group

Subject Number

Classification

Subject Area

Years in Education

Degree

GTAT

1

teacher

science

7

BS

y

2

teacher

science

8

MEd

y

3

teacher

science

6

MEd

y

4

teacher

science

15

MS

y

5

counselor

na

4

MEd

y

6

teacher

math

12

MEd

y

7

teacher

math

8

BS

y

8

teacher

math

2

BS

y

9

teacher

social studies

2

MEd

y

10

teacher

social studies

1

BA

n

11

administrator

na

21

EdD

y

12

teacher

social studies

10

BA

y

13

teacher

foreign language

17

EdS

y

14

counselor

na

16

MS

y

 

 

group average:

9.2

 

 

 

Traditional Instruction
Subject Number

Classification

Subject Area

Years in Education

Degree

GTAT

1

teacher

math

9

MS

y

2

teacher

social studies

2

BS

y

3

teacher

social studies

1

BS

n

4

teacher

foreign language

21

EdD

y

5

counselor

na

26

MEd

y

6

teacher

foreign language

13

BS

y

7

teacher

fine arts

11

MEd

y

8

teacher

fine arts

11

BA

y

9

teacher

language arts

16

MEd

y

10

teacher

language arts

4

BA

y

 

 

group average:

11.4

 

 


Table 2
Results of Performance Assessment
Traditional Group

Traditional Instruction Subject Number

Classification

Subject Area

Initial Exam (max score=26)

Exam after 6 weeks

1

teacher

math

26

26

2

teacher

social studies

24

25

3

teacher

social studies

26

20

4

teacher

foreign language

24

26

5

counselor

na

23

25

6

teacher

foreign language

26

26

7

teacher

fine arts

24

23

8

teacher

fine arts

26

26

9

teacher

language arts

24

26

10

teacher

language arts

24

20

 

 

group average:

24.7

24.3


Table 3
Result of Performance Assessment
Adult Learning Focused Group

 

Adult Learning Group

Subject Number

Classification

Subject Area

Initial Exam (max score=26)

Exam after 6 weeks

1

teacher

science

26

26

2

teacher

science

24

25

3

teacher

science

26

20

4

teacher

science

24

26

5

counselor

na

20

25

6

teacher

math

26

26

7

teacher

math

24

24

8

teacher

math

26

26

9

teacher

social studies

26

26

10

teacher

social studies

24

20

11

administrator

na

24

22

12

teacher

social studies

26

24

13

teacher

foreign language

26

25

14

counselor

na

20

20

 

 

group average:

24.4

23.9

Table 4
Results of Training Perception Survey

Results of Survey (Adult Learning Group)

Strongly Agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

I am confident in my ability to use Dreamweaver to create a website

57%

43%

0%

0%

0%

I am likely to create a website for my personal use

29%

64%

7%

0%

0%

I am likely to create a website for my professional use

64%

36%

0%

0%

0%

Dreamweaver can be used to supplement my daily teaching activities/responsibilities

79%

21%

0%

0%

0%

Dreamweaver is a simple to use tool

50%

36%

7%

7%

0%

I am satisfied with my Dreamweaver training

100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

I feel like the time I spent in training was not wasted

93%

7%

0%

0%

0%

I am satisfied with the support I received from my instructor

100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

I saw practical classroom and personal applications for Dreamweaver

93%

7%

0%

0%

0%

The training schedule was convenient

86%

14%

0%

0%

0%

Am I more likely to participate in future training using the same training format.

79%

21%

0%

0%

0%

 

Results of Survey (Traditional Group)

Strongly Agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

I am confident in my ability to use Dreamweaver to create a website

50%

50%

10%

0%

0%

I am likely to create a website for my personal use

30%

60%

0%

10%

0%

I am likely to create a website for my professional use

50%

50%

0%

0%

0%

Dreamweaver can be used to supplement my daily teaching activities/responsibilities

70%

20%

10%

0%

0%

Dreamweaver is a simple to use tool

20%

50%

10%

10%

0%

I am satisfied with my Dreamweaver training

90%

10%

0%

0%

0%

I feel like the time I spent in training was not wasted

70%

10%

10%

10%

0%

I am satisfied with the support I received from my instructor

90%

10%

0%

0%

0%

I saw practical classroom and personal applications for Dreamweaver

30%

50%

0%

20%

0%

The training schedule was convenient

30%

30%

10%

30%

0%

Am I more likely to participate in future training using the same training format.

40%

30%

30%

0%

0%