District

Technology
Training
Plan
A Look into Implementing
Active Inspire Features to
Create Engaging and Interactive
Lessons

By Santiago Sere

The District:
As one of the largest counties in the Washington Metropolitan area Montgomery County
Public Schools (MCPS) services thousands of students. In fact, according to MCPSs website,
this county is the 17th largest district in the U.S. and it is the largest in Maryland (n.d.). MCPS
educates a total of 154,153 students on a daily basis. Students speak more than 138 languages
and come from 157 countries (MCPS, n.d.). There are a total of 133 elementary school that teach
70,028 students, 38 middle schools that teach 32,467 students, 25 high schools that teach 45,277
students, one Career and Technology Center and five special schools (MCPS, n.d.). In total, there
are 202 schools teaching students from many different ethnicities. The demographic breakdown
in MCPS are the following:

MCPS's Demographic
Breakdown

Students in Divisions

White

3%
5%
15%

Hispanic/Latino

32%

21%
27%

Black or African
American
Asian

Pre-K

30%

Elementary

46%
21%

Middle
High

Other*

Graph 1 - *Two or more races OR American Indian or Alaskan Native

OR Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

Of the 154,153 students in the county, 35% receive Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS),
13.3% are English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and 11.7% of students receive special
education services (MCPS, n.d.). These students and all the other ones need the best education
that the county can provide. A way to do this is by incorporating technology into daily
instruction. That means that within MCPS there are 202 schools where technology needs to be
used.
The Problem:
This county services the 17th largest district in the country but lacks proper teacher
training when it comes to technology. In order to determine the needs and the problems that
teachers are having, I have created the following form for them to complete. This will give me
invaluable data as to how best to proceed. Below on Figure 1, one can see a screenshot of the
form. The forum itself can be found using the following link: Technology Concerns.
This technology teaching plan was designed to tackle one of the issues that teachers have
shared during my stay at MCPS. The district does a wonderful job supplying them with
technology; most classes have a Promethean board at the elementary school level. The problem

lies with teachers not knowing how to use them appropriately and effectively. Despite being
given this fantastic hardware, teachers are not familiar with Active Inspire and how to teach the
different subjects appropriately. This is especially true with elementary school teachers who
teach all subjects. Teachers in the elementary school level have expressed concern with the
concept of applying and using the technology in each subject. This plan is designed to help them
get a better understanding of the tools and the ways that the Promethean Boards can help them
teach the different subjects. Teachers have shared frustrations that money is being invested in
great tools but are not being taught how to use it in order to meet the students needs. They claim
that the Promethean Boards are being used as a regular board with none of its interactive features
being explored or used. These hardware is being used to teach the same why as in the past and is
not servicing students who have special needs or who have different learning modalities. These
boards have the capacity to have students get up and collaborate in front of the classroom with
the board but unless teachers know how to create flipcharts and use them appropriately, these
boards will remain as very expensive white boards.
The Needs:
In order to address our teachers concerns, the district should create different workshops
that show and teach teachers how to effectively integrate their Promethean Boards into the
different subjects they teach. Using the results from the survey (I had five teacher friends in the
county take it), this is more evident. They share an excitement to have the opportunity to have
the boards but are not sure how to begin working with them with the little training they have
received. According to the results of the survey, all teachers who partook in the form expressed
interest in attending workshops that dealt with specific subjects. The average response regarding
the question of how comfortable they feel about using the Promethean board showed that they
are at a 2 (one being low and five being high). Two responses showed that they wanted the
district to provide more opportunities to learn how to use the Promethean Board. Even more so,
teachers answered that their comfort zone using Active Inspire was at a 1 (again, one is low and
five is high). This is not what we want our teachers to feel about the technology available. We
want them to feel excite and energized when using this tool, not be uncomfortable or put down
about it. They are not going to start using the boards effectively unless they feel that they are
trained and can meet our students needs with them.
Based on the results from the teacher survey, the ten items they would like training on are
the following (listed from most important to least important):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

How to create lessons for math using technology

How to create lessons using the Promethean board for Science and Social Studies
How to create engaging and interactive lessons using the Promethean Board
Better training on how to incorporate the Promethean Boards specifically
Training on how to begin to incorporate technology in the classroom
How I can use adaptive technology to better meet the students needs
How to use technology to communicate with parents
How to use technology to assess (formative and summative)
How to use technology to collaborate with other teachers

10. Where they can get resources for the Promethean Board
Workshops proposed on this Technology Training Plan will address many of the
demands that teachers have. It is important to note, that teachers want more training in regards to
making lessons and flipcharts more engaging and appropriate in their different subjects.
The Audience:
Teachers come with different experiences and backgrounds and have various talents,
however struggle with technology as it is constantly evolving. Keeping up with new features and
trends can be time consuming and very frustrating.
These workshops are designed for anyone and everyone with some background
knowledge on how to use Promethean Boards and Active Inspire. Time will not be spent
exploring the basic features of the board like using text, adding shapes or even calibrating the
board (though it might be reviewed in passing). Teachers who struggle with technology might be
a bit overwhelmed. It is expected for teachers that attend the workshops that they possess some
basic skills with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and e-mail. The workshops were created and intended
for teachers or anyone who works directly with the students in an academic way. This includes
homeroom teachers, specialists, paraeducators, etc. This audience will get the most meaning out
of these workshops as they will explore how to best use Promethean Boards and Active Inspire
in a way that can allow all students to partake in learning. Teachers who teach all subjects
(reading, writing, math, science and social studies) are encourage to come as the combination of
the five workshops will give them tools that they can apply to different subjects. For instance,
what they learn in the social studies workshop can also be applied and adapted to a lesson in
science. Although all teachers form all grades are welcome to come, these workshops are
intended for elementary school teachers based on the skills and the topics discussed.
Experience level in teaching does not matter. Technology can overshadow the many of
experience that a veteran teacher has under their belt as it is constantly changing. Veteran
teachers, new teachers and anything in between are encouraged to partake in this training.
Administration and other staff is also welcome to join. Administrators and the IT people
at schools are encouraged to attend as they can support teachers when troubleshooting problems
or when technology decides to stop cooperating in any way.
Most importantly, these workshops and training are meant for anyone who is willing to
keep an open mind and try new things that will help their students access the curriculum.

The Goal/Objectives:
The goal of this training plan is to get teachers using the technology in their classrooms
appropriately and effectively. A large focus will be spent on what that looks like for each
subject: reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.

The last important role is for teachers to learn that technology is a tool that should be
used when necessary and not for the sake of using it. It should be purposeful and appropriate to
the students and to the subject being covered. Teachers will hopefully begin seeing the
Promethean Board as a learning tool that will engage their students in interactive and hands-on
learning experiences.
In teacher terms: By the end of the training teachers will

Be able to create hands-on learning flipcharts for each academic subject

Be familiarized with the basic features that Active Inspire provides
Be familiarized with subject specific features provided by Active Inspire
Be able to apply specific Active Inspire features to specific subjects.
Use their board in a more meaningful and appropriate way
Begin thinking of ways to use the board in their own classroom

Content:
The five workshops will include
Title of
Workshop
Active
Reading with
the Revealer
Tool

Interactive
Features

Subject
Areas
Covered
Reading

Writing

Which User to Math

Use

Description

Skills or Topics

In this workshop, teachers will explore

the use of the editing functions as well
as the revealer tool to have students
develop active reading skills. Active
reading is a tool that helps students
connect with the text in a more
meaningful way. Teachers will leave the
workshop with knowledge on how to
use the features provided by Active
Inspire to help students actively read.

In this workshop, teachers will explore

how to add interactivity into their
flipcharts by hiding elements, creating
pathways and using translucency to keep
students engaged through the lesson.
Teachers will apply these features into a
writing class by exploring how they fit
into different topics.
In this workshop, teachers will use preset user created by the Active Inspire
developers in order to access math tools
that are available. Not many teachers
know but all the great manipulatives that
they use in the classroom are available

Hidden
Translucency
Pathways
Linking

User Feature
Math features
Calculator
Dice
Protractor
Ruler

Desktop
Flipchart
Copy-Paste
Revealers and
type of revealers
Pen feature
Highlighter
feature

Assessing with Social

Studies
ActiVotes

Magic Pen

Science

to them digitally as well. This is a

fantastic way to bring something back
into the abstract after making
connections physically.
In this workshop, teachers will learn and
be able to use Active Votes to assess
student understanding. Teachers create
quizzes using the button features and the
use of the hardware.
In this workshop, teachers will use the
magic pen feature to create engaging
lessons. Students will want to come to
the board, helping students focus and be
able to control their behavior better.

Shapes

Assessment

Layers
Magic Eraser

Instructional Strategies:
In order to cover the materials in the workshops, I will use small group and large group
instruction. I will address the whole group as a whole and then have them practice the skills
together in smaller groups. It will be led as more of a hands-on lecture with student participation.
They will be able to come up to the board and do things at their stations while I do things at the
main board. Each station will have a computer with the Active Inspire software installed.
I have attended workshops where people have spoken at me without giving me the
opportunity to apply any of the concepts and skills we were learning about. This method was
very ineffective for me as I was not able to apply hence remember the notes and information
learned. I have gone to workshops where people have done a lot of speaking while providing me
the opportunity to play and interact with the information that was presented. I found these
workshops very useful and effective. Unfortunately, I have also gone to workshops where the
presenter spoke to us as if we were elementary school students. It felt condescending and very
unnecessary. They used tools like read aloud stories they created to engage us.
My workshops will have a lot of hands-on activities as well as discussion as to how we
can apply it to the specific subject and to other subjects taught.
Sample five Day workshop

Santiago Sere
Subject
Reading

Technology Workshops Lesson Plan

Active Reading with the
Day 1
Revealer and Other Tools
Prerequisite Knowledge
Copy-paste
Active Inspire flipchart open
Opening files on the computer

Content:
In this workshop, teachers will explore the use of the editing functions as well as the revealer
tool to have students develop active reading skills. Active reading is a tool that helps students
connect with the text in a more meaningful way. Teachers will leave the workshop with
knowledge on how to use the features provided by Active Inspire to help students actively read.
List of objective for this lesson
Teacher will be able to use editing features to make annotations in text.
Teacher will be able to model active reading by applying and using Active Inspire
features.
Teacher will be able to use the following features in order to help students with active
reading:
o Desktop flipcharts
o Revealer types and features
o Pen feature (size and color)
o Highlighter feature (size and color)
How will you teach the lesson?
1. (0:00 10:00) Model/Volunteers: The workshop will begin by asking member in the
audience to volunteer to read a passage of text. The passage will be roughly about 5 to 10
sentences. This passage will be very well written and intended for a physics classroom to
illustrate how some of our students feel when they read texts. It doesnt make sense to
them. After discussing the meaning of the text and if anyone was able to understand it,
we will draw the comparison to what our students feel. Active reading will then be
introduced as a way to break down the readings and makes sense of the text by
highlighting, underlining and narrowing in on specific sentences. Model that with the
passage using the Active Inspire tools (highlighter, pen, revealer)
2. (10:00 30:00) Tools Pass out the notes and show them where they can find each
material on the board. For the revealer teach them how to add it to the main screen (tools
more tools find the revealer click add it will be on the dash board). Show them
several times slowly while using the features. Discuss the importance of students
highlighting and annotating the text. Show them different ways to do it. Stress that the
way they choose needs to make sense for their students. Maybe they highlight unknown
words and circle main characters and their attributes. Or maybe they highlight main
characters and circle unknown words. Either way, it needs to make sense for the teacher
and the students.
3. (30:00 40:00) Practice - Allow time to practice in each small group. Groups will be
made up of 2 -4 teachers. Make sure they each have a turn to try it out in their computers.
Have them look for some text online (preferably a text they would use with their

4.

5.
6.

7.

students) and copy paste it into a flipchart. They might have to do some editing to make it
fit the screen in Active Inspire. They should be discussing ways they would have their
students annotate the text. Which way is better? Why? Is therere a better method? All
directions will on the main flipchart created by me.
(40:00 45:00) Desktop flipchart Show the teachers what and how to use the desktop
flipchart. They dont always have to copy paste as they can simply have the text behind
the flipchart open so that all they have to do is press the desktop flipchart feature. This
will result in the background leaving and having whatever software or screen behind
Active Inspire show up. From there, all the features can be used just as well as on the
flipchart.
(45:00 50:00) Practice Teachers will practice looking for text online and saving it on
their desktops then opening it and using the desktop feature.
(50:00 60:00) Exit Ticket/Application Ask the teachers to brainstorm several ways
that they can apply the features taught in the workshop to OTHER subjects. How can the
revealer tool be useful in social studies? Or how can the highlighter tool be useful in
math. Teachers will share their answers aloud as a whole group.
Questionnaire Before they leave ask them to fill out a questionnaire sharing their
thoughts about the workshops.

Make sure that teachers are constantly coming up to the board and interacting with it. Also
stress the importance and value of having students coming up to the board
Additional Materials and how you will use them
Notes sheet Contains information about what and how to use each feature discussed in
the workshop. It also has a manual on how to add other features to the dashboard.
Evaluation Strategies
Questions asked throughout the presentation
Informal assessment as I walk through the groups
Questionnaire at the end

Santiago Sere
Subject

Technology Workshops Lesson Plan

Interactive Features in Writing Day 2
Prerequisite Knowledge
Editing features from Active Inspire
Basic understanding of layers

Writing
Content
In this workshop, teachers will explore how to add interactivity into their flipcharts by hiding
elements, creating pathways and using translucency to keep students engaged through the lesson.
Teachers will apply these features into a writing class by exploring how they fit into different
topics.
List of objective for this lesson
Teachers will be able to create more interactive and engaging lessons by using and
applying hidden objects.
Teachers will be able to create more interactive and engaging lessons by using and
applying pathways to make things move from outside of the screen.
Teachers will be able to create more interactive and engaging lessons by using the
translucency feature.
How will you teach the lesson?
1. (0:00 10:00) Model Pass out butterfly notes. Have the flipchart open and model a
lesson about the life cycle of a butterfly. The flipchart contains hidden objects, pathways
and notes that teachers needs to take. After the lesson, ask the teachers if they were more
engaged than if they had to copy down notes. Ask them if they are able to say why?
2. (10:00 25:00/30:00) Guided Practice Show them how to create an object and then
using the hiding tool, hide it. As you show them on the board, groups are doing the same
thing on their computer. Put an object on the board click view control browser find
and click Actions click on the object that needs to be hidden - find Hidden from the left
control panel (in actions) click apply. Whenever the object gets clicked on it will
disappear or appear.
3. (25:00/30:00 35:00) Practice Have them decide a topic or lesson that they can create a
flipchart for using the hidden feature. The flipchart should contain two slides.
4. (35:00 45:00) Pathway Show them the pathways by referring back to the model
flipchart at the beginning of the workshop. Teach them how to use it (they can also
reference their notes sheet with the information): click on the object control b
properties restrictors can move freely make it horizontal or vertical apply. It can
now only move one way depending on the one that was chosen. Have them add this
feature to one of the objects in their already created flipchart.
5. (45:00 50:00) Translucency Show them how translucency works based on the model
flipchart. Click on the object right click until you find the icon label translucency
change the translucency by moving the cursor left or right.
6. (50:00 60:00) Exit Ticket/Application Ask the teachers to brainstorm several ways
that they can apply the features taught in the workshop to OTHER subjects.
7. Questionnaire Before they leave ask them to fill out a questionnaire sharing their
thoughts about the workshops.
Make sure that teachers are constantly coming up to the board and interacting with it. Also
stress the importance and value of having students coming up to the board

Additional Materials and how you will use them

Butterfly notes sheet. Used to show an engaging and interactive lesson and to begin the
discussion as to why these features matter and can make a difference
Notes sheet Contains information about what and how to use each feature discussed in
the workshop. It also has a manual on how to add other features to the dashboard
Evaluation Strategies
Questions asked throughout the presentation
Informal assessment as I walk through the groups
Questionnaire at the end

Santiago Sere
Subject

Technology Workshops Lesson Plan

Which User to Use
Day 3
Prerequisite Knowledge
Opening a flipchart
Editing features in Active Inspire

Math
Content
In this workshop, teachers will use pre-set user created by the Active Inspire developers in order
to access math tools that are available. Not many teachers know but all the great manipulatives
that they use in the classroom are available to them digitally as well. This is a fantastic way to
bring something back into the abstract after making connections physically.
List of objective for this lesson
Teachers will be able to use different tools in the dashboard depending on the subject
being taught by selecting the correct user
Teachers will be able to use and apply math tools into their math flipcharts to make
lessons more meaningful and engaging.
Teachers will be able to use and include the following tools in their math flipcharts:
o Calculator
o Protractor
o Dice
o Ruler
o Compass
o Etc.
How will you teach the lesson?
1. (0:00 10:00) Model Using the basic flipchart created have teachers solve the
following operations while using the physical materials (rulers, protractors, calculators,
dice). Ask them what the limitations of using these physical tools are when addressing a
large class of 25-30 students (not everyone can see them, they may not have enough for
everyone, etc.). Tell them that all those tools can be used when using Active Inspire on
the board. They have to: look on the dashboard for the icon that looks like an ID (it is
close to the top right corner) click on it change to math - see how the math tools
appear with that simple switch. It takes less than 10 seconds.
2. (10:00 20:00) Discussion Open new flipchart and how them how each tool can be
changed and adapted to whatever unit they are using. The flipchart contains lessons on:
probability (dice and flipping coin), measurement (ruler), geometry (protractor),
multiplication (calculator).
3. (20:00 40:00) Practice Teachers will create a flipchart for a unit of their choice. They
must use one or more math features in the flipchart in a meaningful and engaging way.
4. (40:00 50:00) Share Teachers share their flipcharts with other teachers to learn from
each other.
5. (50:00 60:00) Exit Ticket/Application Ask the teachers to brainstorm several ways
that they can apply the features taught in the workshop to OTHER subjects. They should
change the user to other subjects to see what they can create. Tell and show them how
they can create their own user that has the features they use the most.
6. Questionnaire Before they leave ask them to fill out a questionnaire sharing their
thoughts about the workshops.

Make sure that teachers are constantly coming up to the board and interacting with it. Also
stress the importance and value of having students coming up to the board
Additional Materials and how you will use them
Basic flipchart Used to show how mundane and impractical using physical tools can
sometimes be
Flipchart with math content Used to demonstrate the practical and ease of use for each
math tool
Notes sheet Contains information about what and how to use each feature discussed in
the workshop. It also has a manual on how to add other features to the dashboard
Evaluation Strategies
Questions asked throughout the presentation
Informal assessment as I walk through the groups
Questionnaire at the end

Santiago Sere
Subject
Social Studies

Technology Workshops Lesson Plan

Assessing with ActiVotes in
Day 4
Social Studies
Prerequisite Knowledge
Basic Active Inspire
Active Inspire text feature
Active Inspire Browser

Content
In this workshop, teachers will learn and be able to use Active Votes to assess student
understanding. Teachers create quizzes using the button features and the use of the hardware.
List of objective for this lesson
Teachers will be able to assess students in their lessons by using Active Votes
Teachers will be able to make quick assessments and tailoring lessons by using Active
Votes
How will you teach the lesson?
1. (0:00 20:00) Model Do a quick lesson on the history of Columbus (who he was,
where he was from, for whom did he sail for, the three ships, etc.). Pass out quiz and have
teachers take it. After completing it, pass out the active votes and have them do the same
quiz. Read the questions aloud and model how to properly use the eggs (active votes).
2. (20:00 35:00) Lesson Show the teachers how to use the active votes and create
questions. Right click anywhere on the flipchart and select Insert Question. Choose the
type of question you want and pick the template you want. Click next and type in your
question in the text box and answers towards the bottom (scroll down). Decide what the
right answer is by selecting it. Finish and it should be done. The last thing you want to do
is to click on the green arrow on the dashboard. This shows that there is a live question
that students can respond to. Once you click it, students can start voting. Repeat this
several times and ask participants to come up to the board and create their own question.
Learning from one another is equally important.
3. (35:00 45:00) Practice Teachers create their own quiz by using the notes and the
directions on the board. The quiz must have at least 5 questions and should vary in type.
4. (45:00 50:00) Carrousel Teachers walk around and check out each others quizzes.
5. (50:00 60:00) Exit Ticket/Application Ask the teachers to brainstorm several ways
that they can apply the features taught in the workshop to OTHER subjects. Can this be
applied to math? Science? Language arts? How?
6. Questionnaire Before they leave ask them to fill out a questionnaire sharing their
thoughts about the workshops.

Make sure that teachers are constantly coming up to the board and interacting with it. Also
stress the importance and value of having students coming up to the board
Additional Materials and how you will use them
Paper quiz Used to show how traditional and nerve wracking quizzes can be.
Flipchart Used to show how to use the activotes.
Notes sheet Contains information about what and how to use each feature discussed in

the workshop. It also has a manual on how to add other features to the dashboard
Video
Evaluation Strategies
Questions asked throughout the presentation
Informal assessment as I walk through the groups
Questionnaire at the end

Santiago Sere
Subject
Science

Technology Workshops Lesson Plan

Magic Pen in Science
Day 5
Prerequisite Knowledge
Active Inspire simple features
Property browser in Active Inspire
Shapes in Active Inspire

Content
In this workshop, teachers will use the magic pen feature to create engaging lessons. Students
will want to come to the board, helping students focus and be able to control their behavior
better.
List of objective for this lesson
Teachers will be able to create interactive flipcharts in order to engage students by using
the magic pen feature.
Teachers will be able to apply the magic pen feature to other subjects.
How will you teach the lesson?
1. (0:00 10:00) Model Use the simple flipchart created to teach a lesson about moon
phases. Discuss if this was an effective lesson, why or why not. Go to the next slide and
do the same lesson. This time, have participants come up to the board move the magic
eraser. Discuss the difference between the two lessons. How does the magic ink make it
more engaging?
2. (10:00 30:00) Lesson This takes time and patience as it is involved. Show them first
quickly and the do it again slowly how to use this feature. How to do it: first go to
www.prometheanplanet.com and search for magic eraser pack. It will download
automatically. From there open a flipchart and use control B to open up the browser go
to multimedia and search magic eraser and add the one you like. Write the text that you
want to hide on the white space and place a shape of your choice on top of it. Open up the
control browser and click on the third icon at the top called layers. Click on the shape and
drag it to the top layer. When you hover over the box with the magic eraser, it will make
the box disappear revealing the hidden text. You might have to do this several times with
different objects to make disappear.
3. (30:00 50:00) Guided Practice Have teachers create a flipchart (each teacher creates a
page while supporting each other) on a topic in science they will cover. It can be human
body, water cycle, adaptations, etc. As they work, walk around helping them with the
steps. Despite the steps being on the board, it is important to hear them out.
4. (50:00 60:00) Exit Ticket/Application Ask the teachers to brainstorm several ways
that they can apply the features taught in the workshop to OTHER subjects. They should
change the user to other subjects to see what they can create. Tell and show them how
they can create their own user that has the features they use the most.
5. Questionnaire Before they leave ask them to fill out a questionnaire sharing their
thoughts about the workshops.
Make sure that teachers are constantly coming up to the board and interacting with it. Also
stress the importance and value of having students coming up to the board

Additional Materials and how you will use them

Flipchart Used to show how slow and disengaging lessons can be and then to compare
it when using the magic erasers.
Notes sheet Contains information about what and how to use each feature discussed in
the workshop. It also has a manual on how to add other features to the dashboard
Video
Evaluation Strategies
Questions asked throughout the presentation
Informal assessment as I walk through the groups
Questionnaire at the end

Materials:
Here are two videos that I would use and include in my notes sheet for teachers to view at their
own pace if they get stuck:

Magic Eraser Video

Activote Video

The following flipchart will be used in the science workshop. It was retrieved from Promethean
Planet and was created by Manuel Herrera. Below are some screenshots:

Field Test:
In order to ensure that my workshop will go as planned, I would like to gather a few of
my colleagues and present the workshops to them. This groups would be composed of both
technology savvy teachers and teachers who are struggling with the basics. This way, I can
gather data from both groups and make changes based on the results. This would be done at least
a week in advanced to ensure that enough time is available to make the adjustments to the
lessons as well as the materials needed for them.
The field test would generate great feedback that I could then turn to adjustments to
better communicate the information in the workshops. Depending on how the first test went, I
would consider doing a second one to see if the revisions made were effective. I would use a
different group of teachers to see how the two workshops (pre-test and post-test) compare. The
field test would take place after school for a 45 minutes to an hour (the length of the workshop)
to make sure that enough time is allotted to the material covered. This would be a good
opportunity to see if the training materials work of if they too need to be altered in any way.

Revision:
Based on my field test, I would make revisions accordingly. For example, if my
colleagues were not able to keep up, it is feedback for me to either slow down or decrease the
amount of information I have. On the other hand, if they we were able to accomplish everything
before the time was over, I would make sure to have follow-up or extensions to make things
more challenging. Either way, I would use the feedback that I received from my colleagues to
make adjustments as need to ensure that my workshops are valuable.
Evaluations:
As part of my workshop, I would require/request that the teachers create a final product
showing me that they were able to use the features in the way asked. Assuming that teachers
were able to complete the flipchart demonstrating the features, I would consider the workshop a
success. I would also use the exit ticket to determine if they understood and could apply the
features to other subjects. In the exit ticket, attendees are asked to apply the knowledge gained in
the workshop to a different subject they teach. If they are able to do this, the workshop was a
success.
I would also ask them to complete a quick questionnaire in the flipcharts they are asked
to create. At the end of their flipchart, I would have them answer a few questions about the
effectiveness of the workshop, how clearly the information was communicated, if they feel more
comfortable using this tool now and if they have any suggestions to improve the next workshop.
Lastly, as in teaching, there are numerous ways to informally assess how the students are
doing. Depending on informal assessments, I would adjust on the spot to make sure that the
audience was receiving the information needed.
Summative Evaluation:
In order to assess the overall quality of the workshops, participants would be asked to
complete another survey about their experience. This data will share their perspective and what
they thought about it all: did it go well? Was it useful? What needs to be changed? What worked
well? How to improve the workshops? Etc.
Another part of the evaluation will come from the presenter. This will include a reflection
after each workshop to see what the positives and negatives were. A delta sheet should be
completed to record what needs to be changed for future workshops or to improve the ones done.
This report will also include information about the technology: did it all work? Did the
technology run smoothly? Were there any incidents? If so, were they resolved? How?
It would be fantastic to include an outsider (not participants or presenter) to take a survey
and share their thoughts about how the workshops went. This information could come from an
administrator.
With these three pieces of information, the presenter will have a better idea about how the
workshops went and what needs to be altered.

Budget:
The budget for the workshops includes the following categories: transportation, instructor
time, and materials used (papers, printing, etc.). Regardless of the size of the audience, the
workshops would take place at a school where a Promethean Board is present such as a computer
lab or the media center. These workshops require teachers to use laptops or computers so the
venue must either have to have computers available or teachers MUST bring their own laptops.
The transportation cost includes transportation to and from the venue. The instructor time cost
includes two hours: half an hour to prep before the workshop, the hour in the workshop, and the
half hour after the workshop for a follow-up Q&A. The materials cost includes all the printing
and ink used to create the directions and worksheets for the presentation. This budget is PER
workshop and is as follows:
Item
Transportation
Instructor Time
Materials

Amount

$50
$80 (for two hours
per workshop)
$50 75
Total $180 205

In order to meet the budget, a minimum of ten participants need to attend at a cost of $20
per person. This ensure that a minimum of $200 are available to cover all costs. Again, this
budget is per workshop so if teachers plan on attending the five workshops, they would have to
pay $100.
Follow--up:
The follow-up to the workshop will present the participants with information they would
need to review the material covered.
The day after the training, participants will receive an email with bullet points containing
the information covered in the workshops. These notes will include step by step instruction on
how to use each feature and what each feature allows. They will also be send a link where they
can access a quick and to the point recorded version of the workshop and any materials used in
it. This way, they can access the information when necessary in case that they forget the
information presented or if they want to review it during their free time.
Participants will also receive monthly emails asking them of topics for future workshops.
This will provide direct feedback from the teachers to see what they need training on and what
their interest and needs are. Of course, they will be able to unsubscribe from the list serve. In this
email, participants will also receive tips on how to apply new features that will make their
lessons more interactive and engaging as a way for them to continue to develop their skills.
These tips would be enough to entice them and for them to sign up for future workshops.

References
MCPS. (n.d.) Montgomery County Public School: Schools highlights. Retrieved September 28,
2014 from http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/about/
Sere, S. (2014). Technology concerns survey. Retrieved from
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/11uGddhIMaiv5E11ebIMJSnaIqIj9sXzxfAmEIbyFzIY/
viewform?usp=send_form