Warrensburg R-VI Schools, Warrensburg, Missouri

As school districts are beginning to achieve the goal of a "computer in every classroom" it is becoming apparent that this isn't enough if the teachers do not have adequate training to effectively use them. If technology use is ever to be seamlessly integrated into classroom learning experiences, the next big challenge will be to provide the needed training for teachers. Until school districts budget 25 to 50 percent of their technology expenditures on staff training, we must come up with creative ways to spread the expertise of the technologically savvy teachers that exist in every district to the rest of the district staff.

The Warrensburg School district has implemented several programs in which interested teachers from each school take on the role of Teacher Technology Mentors. These teachers are provided with an intensive series of instructional technology classes, as well as computer equipment, including laptop computers.

This innovative approach is based upon these research conclusions: 1) the transfer of new technologies and ideas is usually from teacher to teacher, in informal interpersonal connections; and 2) a very effective strategy for spreading new technology and ideas is to focus efforts on those teachers that are "anxious to try new ideas," providing them with training and equipment.

Research has shown that new technologies and ideas tend to spread through schools by interpersonal connections (between teachers) more than any other way (from a summary of research on how people accept new ideas titled "Who to Hook and How - Advice for Technology Trainers", by Judi Harris, in Learning and Leading with Technology, April 1997). This fact is the basis for this program of mentors/training/incentives. Teachers are offered an attractive "package deal," in which they receive extensive training along with state-of-the-art equipment. In return for this they will serve as technology mentors to the other teachers. This "train the trainer" approach is well-supported in the literature ("Barriers to New Technology, part 1 and part 2" by Jamie McKenzie, in From Now On, Sept. and Oct. 1993; "Implementation Priorities and Strategies" by Gilbert Valdez, in Learning Through Technology (on-line at www.ncrel.org); "Technology Infusion Strategy" by John Ball, in The Science Teacher, March 1996). The New Orleans Public Schools use a cadre of 15 practicing teachers as trainers. The district claims that the credibility of classroom teachers is what makes this approach work well (described in "Rules to Train By" by Sharon McCoy Bell, in Electronic Learning, September 1995). Teachers seem to learn best when taught by other teachers.

In the Warrensburg Schools, we are currently implementing two different Teacher Technology Mentor programs, one for K-3 teachers and a different program for teachers of grades 4-12. Each program has it's own strengths:

Click for details on our K-3 program

Click for details on our 4-12 Program