Motivating Teachers Additonal

[Diane Chen <ChenD@TEN-NASH.TEN.K12.TN.US>]

I received this letter today and thought it was worth sharing with all.
This is really helping my tech group. Thanks!
Diane

From: Ruth Small <drruth@syr.edu>

Hi Diane. I saw your recent posting on LM_NET and I wanted to put in my
"two cents." A person is much more likely to be motivated to do
something if there is "something in it for them." Sometimes it can come
in the form of a tangible reward (you received many suggestions for
these---e.g. food, door prizes, inservice credit) but these do not have
a deep and lasting impact. My suggestion would be twofold; find out (1)
what teachers need to know to help them teach better and their students
learn better and (2) how you can tie your workshop to the curriculum
they must deal with on a daily basis.Then pitch your workshop to them in
ways that specify exactly what they will learn and why it is valuable
for them. The second prong to this approach is to guarantee recognition
for those who participate. For example, arrange with your principal to
have part of a faculty meeting or PTO meeting in which he or she
acknowledges the teachers' participation, praises their accomplishments,
and shares with the audience specific examples of ways in which the
teachers' participation translated to better teaching and learning. This
latter strategy will motivate other teachers to participate next time
and parents to support inservice training for teachers (once they see
what's in it for their children). I believe this two-pronged strategy
will have a much more lasting affect on your teachers.

Good luck!

Ruth V. Small, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School of Information Studies
Syracuse University

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Diane R. Chen, Library Information Specialist
Hickman Elementary School  Nashville, TN
ChenD@k12tn.net    or  DianeRChen@aol.com
TEL: 615 885-8956    FAX: 615 885-8848

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu   In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL  * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=