Hi Debbie -
I do some PD with my faculty on some professional development days, but it feels like I blitz them with info, and they're overwhelmed. Once we became a Google Apps in Education District and I became Google certified, I decided to create and share Google Tips each week with our staff. I use a designated Google Folder to organize the Google tips and send them out via email. Since the faculty can access the Folder, they can go back to consult the tips when they have time and opportunity.
Staff feedback was that the Google info was helpful to them, so I moved onto Technology Tips as well. Same process: I have a Google Folder of Tech Tips, I typically email them on Tuesdays ("Tech Tip Tuesdays") and I try to present the tech resource/info with specific ideas of how teachers could use that technology/website/resource in their lessons for students, stressing how it could benefit them in their teaching/organization and/or how it would benefit student learning.
Whenever possible, I try to create step-by-step directions, since that's what I like to use when trying out a new technology. I don't always have time, but when I'm creating something that I know will be consulted often by students and staff (example: how to set up your document in MLA format) I'll pull screenshots and incorporate those with the step-by-step directions.
Having "written" tips located in an accessible place seems to have taken some of the stress away from the PD since the faculty can access what they need when they need it without the pressure of feeling like they have to use a resource or tool just because it was demonstrated during an official Professional Development meeting.
- Janice