Tools: Canva, Google Slides

Time: 2 Days

Client: Darien Public Schools

Collaborators: Erin McCarthy, English Teacher

This facilitator guide, along with the Slidedeck, was produced as part of professional development for the Middle and High School English Departments. The district had purchased premium access to the website NoRedInk to help aid instruction during the pandemic, but teachers were unfamiliar with the platform and, therefore, hesitant to use it. The other trainer giving the instruction was less familiar with the platform and therefore benefitted from the guide.

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Challenge:

The district thought that this platform would be useful to teachers in both making up for lost time and engaging students whether they were in person or learning from home, but less than five teachers out of the 45 had signed up for an account. A needs analysis revealed that most teachers knew next to nothing about the website's capabilities and were uninspired to investigate on their own. Several also indicated that they were tech 'illiterate' and struggled to see how new software could be naturally incorporated into their curriculum.

Solution:

Working with an SME helped identify some key methods of appealing to the learners. First and foremost, the learners needed dedicated time to work with and explore the software with help immediately nearby if needed. This prevented learners from becoming discouraged. Additionally, while direct instruction was given to get learners set up with an account and an initial diagnostic, lots of time was spent in small groups or working individually. This allowed learners to become comfortable with the functionality and see firsthand how the software could be used in the classroom.