I would like to have a conversation/brainstorming session that centers on the problem of tech-focused professional development. I (along with two other faculty members) work as a “Faculty Tech Consultant” for Mott Community College‘s Center for Teaching and Learning. We get a bit of overload pay to hold office hours and run workshops for faculty and staff in which we teach them about new tech tools and try to get them to think about the best ways to use the tools they may already be familiar with. While our focus is usually on teaching, since we serve staff as well, we do a healthy amount of work on productivity and the like.
It’s a fun gig, and I enjoy it but I’m concerned that we’re not doing enough to promote (and support) truly innovative uses of technology. Part of this is us–we don’t have as much time to do things as we might like–and part is the fact that no one else has a whole lot of extra time either.
So, what I’m looking for is to share experiences in training, teaching, and coaching faculty and staff in being (for want of a better term) technologically innovative. What works, what doesn’t? How do we overcome resistance to new ideas, techniques and tools without being nagging or denigrating to our peers? How do other institutions support technological innovation by faculty and staff?
Although I and my fellow tech consultants are faculty, our remit is to serve faculty, staff, and administrators, so anyone from any field or position would have a lot to contribute to this conversation!
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