Scene+Three

Scene 3: Faculty/Teacher Professional Lounge – meeting and discussing the new initiative over lunch

__The Players__



Nellie Cass and Myron Pratt are discussing the implementation of the new technology and PBL directive from the District. They are concerned with learning a new program for this school year.

Nellie: Speaking to Myron, “Every year or two we have to spend so much time redesigning our curriculums around a new approach. Why don't they just let us teach our students like we always do?”

Myron: “I know, they probably want to teach us a knew technology that is supposed to be the next best thing. What a waste of time, I already know about all of today's new technologies. There is nothing new that they can teach me.”

Just then Shannon Price and Mark Andrews walk into the Professional lounge for lunch. They are discussing the progress of the pilot program, specifically the creation of the groups for the professional development training.

Mark: As they are walking into the room, “I believe we need to have at least five tech savvy teachers in each group. That way they can assist in the training process. We will need to setup a meeting with them prior to the training to go over the initiative.”

Shannon: “Kinda-like a pre-training session with all of the tech experts. This will really help in getting their buy-in for this initiative.” Thinking to herself, “They will also help in getting the buy-in from the rest of the staff.”

Nellie: “Hello Mark, you are just the person I wanted to talk to, What can you tell me about this new professional development initiative? Why is Principal Manard signing us up to do the pilot of this program when we are probably going to be doing something else next year or the year after? Why don't they just let us teach and stop wasting our time?”

Mark: Thinking to himself, “I think Nellie is going to be hard to convince, but I have to try.” His response to Nellie, “Hello Nellie, you have a lot of questions and valid points, so let me provide some perspective on the plan. First, Principal Manard is very supportive of what we do in the classroom, and he always allows us the professional freedom to operate our classrooms as we deem necessary. Second, Principal Manard volunteered our school for this pilot program, not only because we have the technology infrastructure, but because it would allow us to help shape the initiative to have the most impact for our students, teachers, and the district. With our school leading the way on development, we feel that it will have a lasting impact on education in our school for many years to come. In addition, the district is going to mandate this training for everyone so we may as well have some input on how it is accomplished. Finally, the initiative incorporates PBLs and the use of today's technology. We do not want teachers to reinvent the wheel, but we do want them to take existing lesson plans and adapt them to a PBL. Furthermore, they can then use technology to have students develop and present their final products. The new state teacher evaluation tool already requires us to be 21st century compliant, and this would help us meet that requirement.”

Nellie: Sounding a little more receptive, she responds, “Well, explaining it like that lessens my apprehension somewhat. Maybe we can make some use of this program.”

Myron: Still not sold, he chimes in “It all sounds great, but I already know about all of these technologies. In fact, I probably know more about these technologies than the Instructional Technology Specialist. Isn't this a waste of my time, time that I can developing my lesson plans for my students?

Shannon: “You are absolutely right Myron. You are very tech savvy, and we plan on using your expertise to assist in the development training. In addition, to the technology training, we will be spending time in understanding how to develop and incorporate PBLs with new lessons and especially existing lessons. I do not know about you Myron, but being a new teacher, I need this training to help develop my lessons using PBLs.

Myron: Feeling a little ashamed, he softly speaks, “I believe I can help with my technology background, and I agree that the PBL training may help me develop better lessons.”

All four teachers continue eating their lunch and discuss the new initiative. Mark continues to probe Nellie and Myron for their insight on what they would need in the training furthering the progress on their buy-in.

Sources for clipart pictures:

Teacher Lounge []

Know-it-all Newbie []

Negative Old Pro []

Gung Ho Old Pro []

Eager Newbie []