Build an Incentive Program

You may expect teachers to give up their time for professional development willingly. Unfortunately, teachers have very little free time and demands from every angle take the little time they do have. If you can offer some incentives for participation in professional development, it can often go a long way.

Incentives may include:

- Offering any training sessions for credit - Door prizes to be given away at the end of the workshop - Raffle ticket and after a specified number of "trainings" - draw a winner - Food - Classroom Resources - Teacher Partnership - Money - USB key drive - Digital camera - Gift certificates or coupons - Laser pointer - Conference fees - Software - CD case - palmOne handheld - Laptop - Approval to take a professional development day for training - Free Online Resources - click here for examples

Most of these items will come with a price for the teacher, but they many still be eager to participate depending on the incentive program.

Incentive programs allow you to ask teachers for their time so they can demonstrate their learning and integrate technology with their students.

Sample Incentive Programs:

Keys to Effective Teacher Training Programs ~ www.computerlearning.org/articles/Training.htm

Creating Incentives for Technology Use ~ www.ncrel.org/sdrs/thepoint/incentiv.htm

Teacher Buy-in Strategies ~ www.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/teacherbuyin.html

Teaching the Teachers ~ www.electronic-school.com/0398f1.html

Professional Development Technology Incentive Plan by Walton County School District ~ www.walton.k12.fl.us/training/Incentive%20Plan/Incentive%20Plan.htm

Staff Development Plan by Kenai Peninusla Borough School District ~ www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/tech/plan/Train/train.html