Investing in Professional Development for Technology and Inquiry-Based Learning

TL;DR

eMINTS is a two-year program that helps teachers in rural areas improve their instructional techniques through technology integration and collaborative learning.

Transcript

Tonya: I grew up here at Hartville. I moved here in third grade and I graduated here. >>We are kind of your traditional small town. We've got our square with the courthouse on it. We've got old buildings that have been around since the Civil War era. >>When I first came in the classroom I was one of those traditional teachers. I would stand in fr... Read More

Key Insights

• 👻 eMINTS training allows traditional teachers to transform their instructional methods into more effective and engaging techniques.
• 🧑‍🎓 The program helps students who were previously resistant to education become involved in group activities and build social connections.
• 🧑‍🏫 eMINTS provides active and meaningful professional development for teachers, emphasizing collaboration among peers.
• 🧑‍🏫 Teachers in the eMINTS program receive regular support and guidance from eMINTS facilitators, leading to significant changes in teaching approaches.
• 🧑‍🎓 By using technology in the classroom, students gain a better understanding of concepts and skills they learn, such as the scientific method.
• 💦 The eMINTS program encourages teachers to be instructional designers and work collaboratively with their peers.
• 😒 The use of a graffiti wall and other interactive activities during eMINTS training fosters engagement and helps teachers apply what they learn in their classrooms.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did eMINTS training change Tonya's teaching methods?

Prior to eMINTS, Tonya followed a traditional teaching approach, but after the training, she learned how to guide students in groups, resulting in improved student engagement and learning outcomes.

Q: What impact did eMINTS training have on students?

eMINTS training helped students who were previously resistant to education become involved in group activities, make friends, and experience moments of understanding, demonstrating the effectiveness of the program.

Q: How does eMINTS support teachers in rural areas?

The eMINTS program provides professional development sessions facilitated by eMINTS personnel, who visit teachers' classrooms regularly, creating a tightly woven community of learning to facilitate long-term change.

Q: What is the role of technology in the eMINTS program?

The eMINTS program focuses on bringing technology to rural schools, aiming to use the tools effectively by integrating them into instruction and considering the role of technology and the teacher in the learning process.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tonya shares the positive impact of eMINTS training, emphasizing how it transformed her traditional teaching methods into more effective instructional strategies.

• The eMINTS program enables teachers to work in groups and guides them to facilitate student involvement, resulting in students making friends and experiencing "aha" moments.

• Doug, an eMINTS facilitator, discusses the importance of active and meaningful professional development for teachers and the role of collaboration in enhancing interaction.