Exploring and Evaluating Non-Program Teacher Training

Developing a technology training program for faculty entails an analysis of current resources and potential revision to existing resources. As part of that development, exploring other non-program resources might be a priority, especially if a program has little funding or faculty time to devote. Non-program resources include any training opportunities that are not sponsored or funded by your own program. Such training is often offered through the campus library, technology departments, corporate entities, and even web sites providing general technology information. The search for these resources often times begins through the campus web site (assuming the institution has a web presence and a search feature), or via a wide-range web site search.

This section outlines potential search terms when an administrator or teacher investigates non-program resources with the recommendation that a broad range of terms and searches be conducted at all stages of the program's development. In addition to these search terms, information about different types of non-program training are outlined and discussed in terms of their potential strengths and weaknesses. This information, however, must be considered in light of the local institutional context. Perhaps the campus computing center offers a wide range of workshops appropriate for the program's faculty or perhaps better still are online tutorials provided through web sites.

Considering the effects of the non-program training in terms of initial assumptions before participating as well as possible outcomes post-training are two other aspects of integrating non-program training. Better understanding the philosophies underlying both the pedagogical and technological applications of certain training programs is integral to the overall well being of the developing program-based training. To help prompt this evaluation of non-program resources, questions are provided. These questions can be tailored to the particular institution and are suggestive rather than prescriptive. Lastly, several URLs to online teacher resources are made available in this section.