Center for Teacher Efficacy
This spring 31 area high school teachers completed a course in Technology Best Practices. The course posed these questions:
- How do we learn with 21st Century Technology?
How will we teach in the 21st Century?
How can we use new media in support of teaching complex thinking?
To develop “technologically relevant” instruction for today’s high school students, and to help bridge the digital divide, Kathleen Frenz, College of Education, San Francisco State University, guided local high school teachers through lessons in how use blogs, wikis, Thinkfinity, Voicethread, iPhoto, and Apple Interchange, while guiding the teachers to learn from each other and to share their lessons and activities.
This was the latest in courses brought as a result of The Center for Teacher Efficacy, which celebrated three years of exciting collaboration between these institutions:
- San Francisco State University, College of Education
- Cañada College University Center
- San Mateo County Office of Education
- San Mateo High School District
- Sequoia Unified High School District
- Jefferson High School District
The Center for Teacher Efficacy is a deep, wide-ranging partnership project designed to provide on-going, meaningful professional development opportunities for area teachers so they can better prepare their diverse students for the future. As the teachers’ educational needs change, faculty from the San Francisco State University College of Education offer specialized classes addressing current issues.
An important focus has been on Differentiated Instruction, providing “best practices” for effectively teaching students with different skill sets and educational goals. Following a cohort model, teachers from area districts have participated in sessions organized by subject matter: English and Social Studies, Math, and Biology. The Math focus was repeated fall 08 and Structured Academic Language, which was targeted to English and Social Studies teachers was also offered fall 08, and the Center most recently successfully brought ITEC 814, Technology Best Practices.
For specific program information please contact:
Dr. Vera Lane
San Francisco State University
College of Education
vlane@sfsu.edu
