Now it is time to help teachers develop their competencies, or at least have a plan. As the saying goes, ‘Failing to plan is planning to fail’!
Equip teachers with the skills and time they need to create their digital competence portfolio. Here, coaching and collaboration are key.
DIGITAL PORTFOLIO WORKSHOPS
Expect everyone to have a digital portfolio. Ask for it when recruiting new teachers and request it at personal development discussions. Before requesting, remember the following:
PROVIDE SUPPORT, MATERIALS AND TRAINING TO CREATE A PORTFOLIO
- Arrange workshops for teachers
- Provide guidelines and examples (see)
- Arrange time for self-evaluation and reflection
- Organise workshops where teachers can discuss and reflect on their digital competences
- Address the dates and themes for the year.
- Spread out the six areas of competence and ask teams to establish collective goals and SMART plan their goals is the annual action plan
- Tie your main drivers and support roles into the strategy and establish timed follow-ups and reminders.
SUPPORT THE CREATION OF DIGITAL MATERIAL
- Be interested in what teachers are doing and support projects for developing digital material
- Organise resources (time, funding) for creating digital material
STAY UP TO DATE ON DIGITAL TOOLS AND MAKE SURE SUPPORT IS PROVIDED
- Hardware, software, apps, video productions, virtual reality equipment – what is available in your context and are the possibilities available actually used?
Think also in terms of core competencies and ‘core tools’:
- Office applications, online tools for collaboration – do you use them in their full potential?
- Institutional networks – for example do teachers know how to use
- library resources/databases,
- referencing software
- documentation processes
- Communication skills, for example how to teach on-line in a conference e.g. set up and host an online lessons using polls, white boards, break-out rooms
CREATE A DIGIPOSITIVE ATMOSPHERE AND PEER SUPPORT
- Encourage digital literacy competence to become part of everyday life and discussion
- Arrange venues for sharing digital literacy competence
- Create pairs or groups where teachers can create and update their portfolios as as team.
- Pair up teachers for peer support
- Encourage a shared space where teachers can visit each other’s portfolios (with their consent).
Now move on to STEP 3