Teacher’s professional development is essential in teaching/learning process. Educational technology must be trained. Teachers should share different experiences, try new things, prepare meticulous ICT integration in classrooms’, only this way, educational technology can improve students achievement.

Many teachers didn’t have ICT training in their graduation, needing to frequent several different courses about this, but it’s not enough to learn how to use ICT, they need to integrate ICT with the subject, the specific goals, making a connection with the school and students context and according with pedagogy used.

ICT training helps the inertindividual connecction between teachers and each student- Teachig work is time consuming , but generally student´s questions are similar and the principal need is a very god fomation of the teacher, who must understant the main problems of the students and learn what's new about them. Do not think that impact factor of a certain journal is a good point to each article. The number of citations belongs to the journal and not to the article.

In my experience, working with teachers in implementing learning sequences, the more teachers use technology personally, the more they are inclined to design lessons that incorporate digital content.

Technology should enhance learning not just through increasing student engagement and time on task, but rather through strategies such as critical thinking, collaboration on tasks and problem solving.

While I agree with what respondents say, especially a fellow Principal Jake, I feel that the equation is not so simple. If teachers can use technology satisfactorily then they tend to use it in lessons. There is, however, the question of whether the technology is appropriate, useful or adds value to the learning. In some cases technology provides enhancement of learning far beyond the bare essentials of the subject, in others technology runs the risk of being the point of the lesson and not solely the support it should be. Jake`s comment about critical thinking etc is far more important in this context and in any learning community.

As teacher’s trainer I usually observe several teachers that use technology in their classrooms but not within the meaning of TPACK.

When they plan a lesson (or sequence of lessons), they think about the technology they want to use and how they will implement it.

But usually they forget what is the best way to teach a specific content and to rich a specific goal. What technologies best suits it.

It’s really important to try different technologies for the same content and with different methodologies of teaching.

Experience from teachers' practice is one of the keys to use ICT to improve student’s learning and professional development is important to achieve this.

Hi Patricia - this is a really good question.  I teach at a school where the policy is BYOD (bring your own device) where each student accesses a VLE through their own device.  We have smart boards and smart TV's also in each class.  Each teacher is supplied with a laptop and  an iPad.  Therefore to remain an effective educator with regards to using IT, we must remain current with our skills - this point was highlighted by Jake.  

Another point , however, is the 'IT support' dimension that becomes increasingly prevalent in today's class.  Teachers need to have a working knowledge of technical issues that can, and do, come up (issues with Internet connectivity, software problems, etc) in order to keep things running as smoothly as possible.  Learning from and with students, as either a peer mentoring exercise or as student teaching the teacher, is a really powerful way of engagement and empowerment for some students.  

So, in many ways, we learn from the students themselves, as well as providing enriching educational experiences for them.  Having the opportunity for ongoing professional development is essential.  IT is a tool, but can be used very effectively to enhance a great lesson or series of lessons and is also a great way of empowering some students.

Hello Nick,

You are lucky to work in such a school.

Access to technology is one of the first steps to use it.

We need to hear testimonies of good experiences with technology.

It is my belief that by sharing experiences teachers tend to accept and try new things.