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 | Digital Divide Best Practices |  | |
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Retention Strategies
If appropriate instructors are recruited, they are
committed to teaching and will find satisfaction and enjoyment in
the classroom. The main retention strategy is to provide them with
the tools and support they need to do their job well.
"In 31 years, I've seen a lot of programs
come and go. This is the most exciting curriculum I've seen. Teachers
have access to cutting edge technology, to other instructors if
there are problems, and they have access to Cisco. It's dynamic."
Ken Stanley
CTAC
Wilmington, NC
Cisco has a variety of professional development
tools for Networking Academy instructors. All Networking Academies
have access to technical support. On the community server web site,
they can share lesson plans and lab activities. The annual Networkers
conference brings instructors together to learn about the latest
technology advances.
"Our teachers have a burning need for relevant
experience. It is difficult for a teacher to prepare a student for
a culture they have never experienced. That's why Networkers is
a good experience for teachers. They meet and see the production
people."
Anne Urevick
Philadelphia Public Schools
Philadelphia, PA
"The Cisco Area Academy Managers are always there and available.
When I send an email, I get the help I need to continue."
Mark Alvarado
Mission High School
San Francisco, CA
"They need a high level of administrative
support in their organizations. Teachers don't realize what it's
going to be. It's brand new. They need an extra prep hour for the
first year. They take on a lot of upper level material in a short
time. We recommend that Networking Academies recruit people
who are high energy and have a commitment to make the program work."
Shirley Robinson
Santa Clara County Office of Education
San Jose, CA
Regional Networking Academies can build community
through meetings, special speakers, and online discussions encouraging
instructors to learn from one another. By making the experience
more satisfying, they will be encouraged to stay. The SCCOE Regional
Networking Academy hosts monthly evening meetings in the Lab. Guest
speakers present a new lab or a different take on an existing one.
Ken Stanley's Networking Academy hosts face-to-face meetings to
introduce new equipment or software tools. They discuss issues and
come up with solutions.
"You have to create a team. At the beginning
of every semester, I have a barbeque. We kick back and everybody
shares what they're doing in the classroom.
I try to individualize the support. I visit their Networking
Academies once a month and call them on the phone. I create PowerPoint
presentations for them to use. We've made it a team and share back
and forth."
Bob Schoenherr
Clear Lake Community College
Lake County, CA
Networking Academies with non-traditional student
populations might need to provide extra support to instructors so
that they can focus on the curriculum.
"I'm the liaison. The instructor and I have
good communication. He gives a status report each week. If a client
has a problem, the instructor will let me know. With the client's
consent, the instructor, the client and I will talk about an issue
that may be affecting how the client is doing in class. In one case,
the instructor went above and beyond to help the student finish
the class. Usually the problem is not with the class, it is with
something else in the client's life."
Amy Estes
Emergency Housing Consortium
San Jose, CA
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