In 1998, the Maryland State Department of Education established the Maryland Technology Academy through House Bill 1347. The Maryland Technology Academy is meant to provide opportunities for professional development to the K-16 teachers in the state of Maryland. The Academy focuses on the use of technology to improve teaching methods and to generate a strong positive impact on the learning of the students. The program is also meant to encourage the use of technologies in education to improve the status of the schools in the state. Since its inception, the Maryland Technology Academy has served nearly 2000 K-16 educators.
The primary program of the academy is the Leadership Program. In this program, K-16 educators are taught the value if using technology in teaching students. The program teaches the educators how they can use technology in managing the classroom, improving student learning and designing different teaching methods. The leadership program is held over three weeks in the summer. There are follow up sessions during the school year to reinforce what the educators have learned during the leadership program. The program also involves a web-based community that allows the educators to communicate with each other to exchange ideas. The fellows (the educators involved in the leadership program) create instructional plans that are customized to their schools needs as well as the resources available to the school. The fellows also design student learning activities and programs to help in the professional development of other fellows.
The Maryland Technology Academy also provides a two-day Symposium for administrators. The symposium discusses how to maximize the benefits of using technology to support instruction in schools. This is an important part of the program because it focuses on the role of administrators in the successful integration of technology in the school learning methodologies. Administrative support is essential in ensuring that the use of technology in education becomes successful. Administrators who attend the Maryland Technology Academy Administration Symposium are also encouraged to participate in the Maryland Instructional Computer Coordinators Association Conference.
As an offshoot of the Leadership Program, there are 20 MTA Satellite programs that provide educators in the state the opportunity to experience a program that is similar to the Leadership Program held at the Maryland Technology Academy. The satellite programs focus on a specific grade level or content area depending on the requirements of a particular town or region. The satellite program is completed in a 2-week period. Two follow-up sessions are required for the fellows within the school year. The satellite programs are implemented through the Regional Professional Development Networks. Aside from the leadership and satellite programs, the Maryland Technology Academy also provides resources for educators, Professionals and the Electronic Learning Community through the program’s website.
The effectiveness of the program is carefully evaluated every year to ensure that it remains successful and progressive. During the evaluations, it has been revealed just how much the program has helped improve the skills and attitudes of educators regarding technology use in education and how the program has had a positive impact on student learning.
