Before Trafera, our biggest challenge was providing accessible, individualized training for our educators. Teachers needed training that they could complete on their own time, which was hard to achieve.
Mike Coziahr,
Instructional Technology Coordinator from Decatur School District.
Addressing Training Challenges with Trafera
When Decatur School District installed Promethean ActivPanels in their classrooms, they soon recognized a need to get teachers up to snuff on using their new panels.
Mike Coziahr, Decatur’s District Instructional Technology Coordinator, was the man on the task. He knew that coupling the right tools (in this case, new interactive boards) with great training for teachers would lead to vastly improved learning experiences for students. However, the challenge was finding a way to offer training that was both accessible AND individualized.
Good news for Decatur: Coziahr had partnered with Trafera on their panel implementation, who had just introduced what would become a major key to Decatur’s success in the project.
Technology Setup and Implementation
Decatur’s collaboration with Trafera began in the very beginning of their planning process. Teaching and Learning Consultant, Anna Hanrahan, and Account Manager, Tim Peters made up the duo who supported Coziahr through the project.
The project consisted of purchasing and installing interactive flat panels in classrooms across multiple school buildings in the district.
Anna and Tim have been instrumental in planning for the purchase of devices, as well as organizing the trainings for staff. They have been the most helpful of any of the vendors that I work with. Our instructional growth within our district would not have happened without them.
Mike Coziahr,
Instructional Technology Coordinator from Decatur School District.
Trafera’s team coordinated the installation of Promethean panels and ensured a smooth rollout within multiple schools. With this, Decatur became part of Trafera's extensive network, which now includes over 30,000 classrooms equipped with Promethean panels in more than 6,000 schools nationwide.
Comprehensive Professional Development
To prep teachers to use their new interactive boards to the max, Decatur leaned on their partners at Trafera to lead the way. The plan blended in-person professional development and online training courses to build and sustain educators’ confidence in the new tools.
Trafera sent a whole crew of their fun and vibrant trainers to deliver PD sessions accross the district. The coordinated effort made it so that all teachers, regardless of building, would receive training without major disruptions to their schedules. The Trafera team hosted engaging, hands-on training that gave teachers the chance to explore basic to intermediate tools/functions of their Promethean ActivPanels.
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Decatur also made online training courses available to their education staff to keep skills fresh year round. This online professional development platform, On-Demand Trafera PD, made it possible for teachers to learn and refresh skills at their own pace, on their own timeline. Teacher participation increased dramatically with the ability to access the trainings at their will.
With On-Demand Trafera PD, teachers have access to training not only on Promethean panels, but courses on Google for Education, AI, and more.
The amount of trainings available to teachers is wonderful. The majority of topics that teachers have questions about are covered!
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Building Confidence and Skills
Learn. Apply. Refresh. Repeat. That’s how Decatur’s teachers are approaching professional development these days.
Teachers at Decatur continue to freshen up and fine tune their skills through their access to online training. “When teachers want to discover something new about their Promethean Board, they look to On-Demand Trafera PD to try and find an answer. And if they reach out to me, it is easy to direct and recommend a session for them,” says Mike. “Their confidence in knowing how to access the PD is growing, and it shows in the classroom. Their confidence also reflects on how their students learn.”
This increased confidence is evident in the classroom, where teachers are now actively applying what they’ve learned. What’s more, they’re sharing their learnings with their peers. “At each of our schools, there tends to be a teacher-leader that is the go-to for others to get the training that they need,” Coziahr shares. “These teachers have embraced not only the On-Demand PD, but also have taken the time to present to their staff how they are utilizing the trainings in their classroom.”
Future Plans and Ongoing Support
Looking ahead, Decatur plans to conduct more virtual 'train the trainer' sessions to further support their educators.
Coziahr emphasizes the value of working with Trafera: “It is top-notch. The [individual] and their district will feel valued as a customer by working with Trafera. For me, I have made valuable friends through my collaboration with Trafera and will always recommend them to other districts for their technology and professional development needs.”
Trafera continues to provide ongoing support, ensuring that Decatur educators have access to the latest training resources and assistance whenever needed.
Unlock Your Teaching Potential with Trafera PD
Providing a future-ready education requires a lot more than just access to powerful technology tools. That is where we come in! Trafera PD offers on-site, virtual, and on-demand professional development to empower teachers with the skills and confidence to harness the full potential of their technology. Our training course library is FREE to all Trafera customers and allows educators to learn at their own pace, discover immediate applicable tips, and earn certificates & continuing education credits.
