Effects of Evaluation
on the TREK Teacher Training Model
The Technology Research Exploration for Kids (TREK) Teacher Training Model was developed by the TREK Institute at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. The purpose of this professional development program was to help teachers infuse technology into their classrooms. Teachers were selected for the one-week program and were taught technology skills by master teachers who also were technology experts.
Participants evaluated the program and indicated significant gains in their technology skills and desire to incorporate the skills into their math and science classrooms. Follow-up data, however, indicated that the teachers were not using the skills they had gained.
As a result of the follow-up evaluation, the program was revised to include a week for the teachers to work with students after their initial training week. To test the value of this change, half of the participants spent a week working with children and collaboratively using the technology skills; the other half served as a control group and ended the program without working with children. The two groups were evaluated with surveys, daily journals, and pre- and post-assessments. Research also compared the groups on 20 different variables. The group that worked with children was found to have increased use of technology activities in the classroom, improved classroom practice, and improved confidence.
For further information, refer to Teacher Training: Helping to Construct the Information Highway (Kopp & Ferguson, 1996).
