In conversations with teachers at my campus, the same issue of time
keeps recurring.

There is quite a long discussion on Ning.com in Classroom 2.0 about
obstacles for teachers regarding technology and then about ways to
overcome the obstacles which has been very interesting in relation to
your comments here. But that conversation highlights the same issue of
lack of teacher time.

This is where having your administrator’s support for training can make a difference. Our principal is trying to modify the school day schedule
to provide more staff development time within the work day. That isn’t
a cure all but it definitely will create a space for some joint planning
and teacher training as well.

I think looking at creative ways with an administrator to reduce some of
the teacher tasks so that they can focus more on their professional
responsibilities is key.

One school I visited had secretaries for teachers–3 departments shared
one secretary, but then they had a person who could help prepare
handouts, deliver messages, talk with students, schedule appointments,
etc. I imagine it also made teachers feel more like professionals to
have support staff of their own, and freed up some of their time that
had been spent on purely clerical responsibilities as well.

I think your survey is very valuable.

Thanks for sharing.

Carolyn Foote
http://www.futura.edublogs.org