An Evaluation of a Professional Development Program Funded by EETT (Enhancing Education Through Technology): Answers and More Questions

• In Event: Instructional Technology SIG: Explorations of Professional Development and Other Factors That Impact Teacher Learning and Technology Integration

Abstract

One southwestern state developed a Statewide Instructional Technology (SIT) program to meet state educational technology plan and the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) Program requirements. A clear goal for both of these documents is improving student achievement through technology. The overall mechanism for attaining this goal starts with professional development. This paper and presentation share understandings from an evaluation on the most impactful professional development approaches and content and what these mean for student achievement. It furthermore assesses the level to which the state has followed through in collecting data for demonstrative purposes and follows with an argument for how this lack of evaluation and demonstration is partially to blame for cuts to the EETT program.

Authors

• Shadow William Jon Armfield, Northern Arizona University

• Laura Esthela Sujo-Montes, Northern Arizona University

• J.Michael Blocher, Northern Arizona University