Faculty Training On a quiet, sunny Saturday morning, faculty from the lower, middle and upper schools carry laptop computers through the Cranbrook campus. For one day a week, they change from teacher to student in order to learn how technology can make them more effective educators. Twenty-four faculty currently are participating in Cranbrook's technology training initiative, which engages them in 65 hours of training over three years in exchange for the exclusive use of a laptop that Cranbrook maintains. At the end of three years and upon completion of the course, ownership of the laptop is transferred to the faculty member. At that time, faculty are provided with a new laptop and additional training.
Technology is complex and fast-changing.
Several major gifts from donors and allocations from each Schools division provided funding for faculty development for the next few years. Immediately, faculty see a connection of why it is useful. Ten faculty members from across all divisions volunteered to be trainers and worked together to develop a training curriculum and manual. Faculty are learning how to create more effective and interactive learning environments as well as develop more productive ways of planning classes, preparing teaching materials and grading papers and tests. Already, they have advanced their knowledge of Microsoft Office components, ranging from Word, Excel and Powerpoint to Windows, File Manager and Photo Editor.