We know learners are more likely to use and retain new knowledge and skills when their learning is something they want or need. That is why providing teachers with choices for their professional growth is vital to their learning. Key motivators When helping teachers build their capacities and extend their knowledge and use of technology, leaders can tap into three key motivators to engage teachers in learning to use technology and increase the likelihood that new knowledge and skills will transfer into their classrooms to improve student learning. Teachers need to see that using technology makes a difference. They must recognize how learning to use a new software program or peripheral pieces of equipment will either give them personal satisfaction or allow them to see results in student performance.
Teachers teach because of the intrinsic rewards they get from results in student achievement.
Once they see these results through student use of technology, they become passionate about the innovation, and are more likely to keep doing it even after the classroom doors are shut. Teachers' enthusiasm and willingness to spend time learning, naturally increases when they recognize personal results. This enthusiasm reinforces the time and energy they have invested and leads them to further learning. This is one reason why action research is such a powerful model for staff development. The second key motivator is when teachers realize that their colleagues take the new innovation seriously.