My Goals and Initial Thoughts

Some Information

This article uses some of my own thoughts written earlier on the blog I manage for work. You can find the original article here. If the creator of this quote,Carl Glickman doesn't mind, I would like to put it here as an intro to my goals and thoughts.

This quote has caused me to reflect on some of my frustrations with training in general. Basically, I've decided training doesn't work. With the current model, it just doesn't cause the change it is intended for. I might, for example, do a training in a school on using UTIPS to improve their grade-level curriculum assessments. It doesn't matter how well that training goes, how many participants are 100% gung-ho to use it, how dynamic I am as a trainer, or how much they say they will implement it. I find that only a small portion of those in attendance will actually implement the new ideas. I'm not trying to toot my horn as a trainer, just my frustration that I feel what is supposed to happen, what the administrator who asked for the training expects, isn't because of things I don't control.

My Goals and Thoughts

I've thought a little about it, and have come up with some ideas. Keep in mind these are the result of only a few minutes of thought. I think training doesn't work because (1) there is no system of accountability and follow-up, (2) teachers don't have personal buy in, and(3) it's just "one more thing". One of my goals in studying Instructional Technology is to find ways to effectively create and implement professional development programs that have more long term results.

I hope to have conversations with others along these lines, perhaps "picking their brains" for ideas and methods to try.