Changing the Face of ELA Classrooms: A Case Study of TPACK Professional Development

Background

In 2010, $100 million was appropriated by U.S. Department of Education (2010) to fund Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) grants, making available the means to purchase and integrate technology into classrooms and pedagogy throughout the United States. By no means the largest appropriation, over $250 million had been set aside for technology in education grants in each of five previous years. Ultimately, increases in funding are intended to create 21^st Century Learning Environments for learners and to increase student achievement. As investments in and presence of technology in schools increases and the novelty fades, the focus is changing from adoption of hardware and gadgets to the provision of effective and consistent use of technology in classroom pedagogy. Over two decades ago, Ertmer (1999) noted that as technology has become less expensive, its presence is increasing in schools; as a result, the decision for school districts is no longer should they be adopting technology, but how they should be adopting technology; that is, a decision that reflects systemic implementation, considering district capabilities, content and most importantly the varying levels of proficiency among teachers. Fishman, Soloway, Kracjik, Marx and Blumenfeld (2001) identified a need for teacher training that moves from a standalone knowledge base to one that not only introduces the technology, but provides strategies for teachers to integrate technology into content. Keengwe and Kidd (2010) support this, noting that the need to provide requisite skills to teachers becomes more important as spending on educational technology increases; teachers need increased experience in using technology, but also must experience implementing technology in meaningful ways that support the delivery of specific content that will provide rich learning experiences to students at all levels and abilities. As teachers achieve these desired higher levels of technology integration in their lessons, technology should become a tool for meaningful learning activities (Salomon & Perkins, 1996). Coyle, Meredith and Newman (2011) and Coyle and Newman (2012) reported evidence supporting this higher level of use, noting that students’ receipt and understanding of information was enhanced with the integrated use of technology.