Dive Brief:

• Hattiesburg Public School District Instructional Technologist Dr. Will Deyamport, also a consultant and Schoology Ambassador, says that teacher "buy-in" and involvement are key to successfully implementing 1:1 device initiatives. 
• Teachers should never feel forced into using tech, Deyamport stresses, and teacher buy-in should be earned, not assumed. 
• "In our experience, the best communication with teachers centers on allowing them the time and space to voice their opinions in a safe, nonjudgmental environment," Deyamport says.

Dive Insight:

Professional development related to technology should follow the same guidelines, Deyamport says, aiming to increase voluntary teacher participation and boost ownership. That may seem like a tall order in a poor state like Mississippi, where education spending has been cut by 15.4% since the 2007-2008 academic year, but Deyamport is optimistic. Recent surveys have found that the majority of K-12 teachers are already using tech in the classroom, but most feel like they need more training.

Recommended Reading

EdSurge: How to Cultivate Teacher Agency and Buy-In When Going 1:1