InductionandTechnologyTraining

RetreatforAnotherInternational
SchoolFaculty
Proposal by: Ronen Cohen

Proposal composed as part of:

EdTech 551 (Technology Grant Writing)
Boise State University
May 2014

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

NeedsAssessment

Internationalschoolsarecomplexentities(Hayden&Thompson,1995),andalthoughbydesign
theyareprimarilyeducationalinstitutions,itwouldbeamistaketoignoretheroleeconomicsplays
inthedevelopmentandthedaytodayoperationoftheseorganizations(MacDonald,2006).Hence,
theeconomicsofaschoolanditsacademicsidesaredirectlyrelatedandcloselyintertwined.In
ordertoprovideeducationtoitsstudents,aschoolmusthirestaff,purchaseequipment,maintain
facilities,andsoon.Inturn,inorderfortheschooltogeneraterevenuetoincursuchexpenses,it
seekstoprovidestudentswiththetypeandqualityofeducationitclaimstoprovide.

Clearly,hiringexperiencedandresourcefulleadersandteachingstaffisimportant.Alsoof
importanceisassistingthefacultytoquicklyunderstandhowsystemsattheschoolfunction.This
understandinghelpsthemtobecomeanintegralpartoftheorganizationasitseekstoachieveits
missionandvisionandcreateacohesiveprofessionallearningcommunityculture.

Rationale
1.
InternationalSchoolshireinternationalstaffwithdifferingbackgroundsandexperiences.
Unfortunately,often,mostinternationalstaffdonotstayinoneschoolforlongerthantwotothree
years.AccordingtoAnotherInternationalSchoolsdata,theannualhiringofinternationalstafffor
the20142015schoolyearispredictedtobeover42percent(P.MacKenzie&N.Bhardwaj,
Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by
Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

personalcommunication,April2,2014).Whencomparingthisnumbertootherinternationalschools
inotherpartsofAsia,wheretheaverageis17percent(Mancuso,Roberts,&White,2010),it
appearsthatthereisstillroomforimprovementinteacherretention.Thevalueofstaffretention
includesorganizational,educational,andfinancialbenefits.Accordingtoresearchabout
internationalschools,Highlevelsofturnoverarebothcauseandeffectofineffectivenessandlow
performanceinorganizations(Ingersoll,2001,p.505),andlosingvaluablestaffcanaffect
organizationaleffectivenessduetolossofcontinuityinprogramsandcanreducethequalityof
instruction.Researchalsosupportseffectiveinductionpractices,whichaimstohastenandeasethe
transitionbyprovidingassistance[tonewhires](Stirzaker,2010,p.33).Inductionalsomakes
newcomersfeelwelcomeanditfamiliarizesthemwiththeircolleagues,surroundings,andthe
organizationsroutine.Thisleadershiptaskhelpsreduceconfusionandencourageproductive
behaviorfromearlyon(Stirzaker,2010).Infact,effectiveinductionisconcernedwithmotivating
peopletobecomeproductiveintheshortesttimeandtostaywiththeirorganization.Accordingto
research,itisaleadershiptask.

2.
ThevisionofAnotherInternationalSchoolisTobearegionalcentreforeducationalexcellence
andIBbestpractice(ParentStudentHandbook,2013,p.3).Inordertobecomeacenterfor
educationalexcellenceinthe21stcentury,schoolsmustunderstandtheroletechnologyplaysin
childrenseducationandpreparationforlifebeyondtheircompulsoryeducationyears.Anothers
technologydepartmenthasidentifiedonemediuminwhichsuchvisioncanbeachieved.Theareais
MobileComputing(AnotherTechnologyPolicyBook,2014).Towardthisgoal,inthelasttwoyears
AnotherInternationalSchoolhasinvestedheavilytopurchasemobiletechnologyandonline
Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by
Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

resourcesandrelatedequipment(iPads,iMacs,trollies,servers,compatibleprinters,andprojectors.)
(B.Arnold,personalcommunication,March2014).Thisinvestmentcanbewastedwithoutproper
trainingonthesetoolstohelpadvancetheschoolsvisionwhenpossible.Astechnologiesevolveto
allowlearnerstocommunicate,collaborate,andcreateinnewways,themannersforapproaching
technologyinstructionaldesignalsoevolve(Reeves,2003).Inordertokeepuptospeedwiththese
changingrealities,ongoingtechnologyteachertrainingmustbeputinplacesothisfinancial
investmentdoesnotgotowaste.

SohowcanAnotherInternationalSchoolassistitsteacherstoquicklyintegratetheirworkinthe
school,raisethequalityofinstruction,andbeheldaccountabletothehigheststandards?

Towardaddressingthesetwoneedsofbuildingasenseofcommunityinstaffandimprovingthe
qualityofinstruction,thisproposalsuggestsathreedayinductionretreatthatincludesteambuilding
activitiesandtechnologytrainingforallAnotherInternationalSchoolfaculty.

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

Goals and Objectives

Goal
AnotherInternationalSchoolteacherswillfeelapartofaProfessionalLearningCommunityand
improvetheirteachingskillsbyusingmobiletechnologyeffectivelyintheclassroom.

Objectives
Afterattendingthetechnologyworkshop,teacherswillbeabletoteachandassessstudents

usingiPads.
Afterattendingthetechnologyworkshop,teacherswillknowhowtousetheschools

learningmanagementsystems.
Attheendoftheteambuildingworkshop,teacherswilldevelopnewsocialandprofessional
linkageswithcolleagues.

ThisthreedayretreatwilltakeplaceonthegroundsoftheorganizationBreakthroughIndiain
Somewhere(www.breakthroughindia.com).Forthedurationofthetraining,BreakthroughIndia
willprovideAnotherInternationalSchoolwith:

facilitiestoconducttechnologytraining;
inductionandteambuildingactivities;and,
dailymeals.

Technology Training
Technologytrainingwillbeprovidedtoallprincipals,programcoordinators,teachersandteaching
assistants.Sessionparticipantswillbedecideduponbasedonindividualand/orgroupneeds.
Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by
Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

BreakthroughIndiawillprovideAnotherwiththefacilitiesneededtoconductitsowntechnology
training.ThefacilitiesincludeseveralclassroomswithreliableWiFiconnection.
Inordertokeepcostsdown,thetechnologytrainingwillbeconductedbyseveralAnotherteachers
whohavebeenworkingtogethertoidentifytheneedsofthefacultyintermsofinstructional
technology,andtodesignsuitabletrainingsessionstoaddressthoseneeds.

Thefollowingtabledescribestheareasneedingfurthertrainingandthefacilitatorsofeachtraining
session:

Table1:Toolsandsoftwarefortrainingsessions

Tool/
Software

Teaching
Areas

Facilitator

Session
Length

iPad

Instruction
Differentiation
Assessment

BenJohnson
BradCrawford

3x2hours

Mahara
(ePortfolios)

Introduction
Whatsnewin
version1.9
StudentePortfolio
setup

RonHoward
SunnyDiaz

2hours

Moodle

Introduction
Navigation
Pageandactivity
setup

FinnMikely
SarahMary

2x2hours

GoogleAppsfor
Education

Introduction
Teachingand
learning
Collaborationand

SunnyDiaz

2hours

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

sharing.
Learning
Management
System(LMS):
ManageBacand
ISAMS

Introduction
Attendance
Assessmentand
reporting

AlexRalls

2hours

Total:16hours

Team-Building Activities

Teambuildingactivitieswillbeprovidedtoallinvitees.
Participantswillbedividedintofourgroupsofapproximately30members,andwillwork

eitherseparatelyorwithothergroupsindifferentsessionsthroughoutthetraining.
Thereareatotalofeightdifferentactivities(approximately1:15hourseach)foreach
participant,whichwilltakeplacethroughoutthethreedays.

About Breakthrough IndiaBreakthroughIndiaisalocalorganizationthatspecializesincreatingcustommadetraining

programstoaddressspecificorganizationalneedsfortheirclients.Theirspecializedprograms
includeteambuildingactivities,buildinghighperformanceculturewithinorganizations,induction
training,andmore.

BreakthroughIndiatrainersarecertifiedinavarietyofareasbydifferentknownorganizations,
including:
Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by
Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

ISTDIndianSocietyforTraining&Development(Theonlyprofessionalcourserecognized

byGovt.ofIndiaforTrainingofTrainers)
CarltonAdvancedManagementInstitute(aleadingHRtraininginstitute)Certified

TrainerandFacilitator
FlippenGroupCreatingpersonalizedactionplansusingTheFlippenProfile(Astatistically
validatedbehavioralandperformanceassessmenttoolusedtoidentifycorecompetenciesand
behavioralattributes).

Daily Meals
MealswouldbeprovidedbyBreakthroughIndia.ThefoodservedisIndianvegetarianandnon
vegetarian.Lunchandtwosnacks(midmorningandmidafternoon)areprovided.Filteredwater
dispensersareavailableaswell.

Program Participants
ThegroupofAnotherInternationalSchoolparticipantswillconsistofapproximately120members
(dependingonthehiringneedsatthebeginningofthe20142015schoolyear)Participantscouldbe
anyAnotheremployeewhohascontactwithstudentsorprovidessupporttoteachers,including
boardingstaff,teachers,teachingassistants,administrators,libraryworkers,nurses,secretaries,bus
driversandmanagers,etc.

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

Table2:Breakdownandnumberofparticipantsinworkshops(basedonthe20132014
academicyearrosteronrecordfromApril25,2014emailfromShinyMary)

Section

Group

Total
#

Primary

Teachers&
Teaching
Assistants

Secondary

Administ
ration

Support
Staff

Boarding

WorkshopParticipants
Team
Building

iPad

Mahara

Moodle

Google
Apps

LMS

25

Teachers&
Teaching
Assistants

19

Director,
Principals&
Program
Coordinators

Secretaries&
Nurses

Library
Support

Learning
Support

11

Music

PE

LanguageB

ICT

BusDrivers

10

Supervisors
andTutors

Estimate
???

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

Total:

112+
boarding

112+

97+

97+

97+

97+

97+

Schedule
Thisinductionretreatincludes___hoursofteambuildingactivitiesand___hoursoftechnology
training(formostparticipants).Thetrainingisdividedoverthree7hourdays(9am5pmwith
snacksandlunchbreaks).Thescheduleofeachdaywouldincludealternatingtechnologyandteam
buildingtrainingsessionstodifferentgroups.

Table3:Workshopscheduleandparticipants

(AWAITINGPROPOSALFROMBREAKTHROUGHINDIA)
Day1:

Day2:

Day3:

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

Budget
Thefollowingtabledetailstheactivitiesandcostsanticipated.

Table4:Retreatactivitiesandcostschedule

Activities
TechnologyTraining

Facilities,activities,and
meals(BreakthroughIndia)
http://breakthrough
india.com/

Cost

Notes

0INR

SessionsareconductedbyAnother
Facultymembers

3,64,046INR

900INRperpersonperday

(basedon120member
party;addandsubtract
2700INRperperson)

900INRx3daysx120persons=
3,24,000INR
ADD:12.36%tax
TOTAL:3,64,046INR

Transportation

_______INR

ToandfromAnother.

(Asignupsheetfor
participantswhowouldlike
totaketheirown
transportationwouldbe
used.Thiswillreducethe
costsfurther).

(Basedon78.2INRperliterof
petrol)
40kmx2directionsx3days=
240km
240km@____INRper1km=
____INRx___Buses=
_____INR

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

TOTAL:INR

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

Evaluation

Area

ToEvaluate
1.Implementation
ofnewiPadskills

Method

Dates

Persons
Responsible

a)TeacherReports

Monthly

Teachers
Curriculum
Coordinator

b)Sharing

Biweekly

TeachersDuring
staffmeetings

2.Workshops

Onlinesurvey

Postworkshops

TeachersIT
Coordinator

3.UseofLMS

a)Onlinesurvey

Postworkshop
(twoweeks
afterschool
begins)

TeachersIT
Coordinator

Technology

b)Email
Correspondence

Induction
andTeam

Monthly

TeachersIT
Coordinator

4.Overall

Report

Twiceayear

ITCoordinator
Director

1.Staffperceptions
ofworkinginaPLC

Onlinesurvey

Postworkshop

Allparticipants
Director

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

2.Workshops

Onlinesurvey

Postworkshop

Allparticipants
Director

3.Overall

Interview

Endofyear

Allparticipants
Supervisors(during
goalsettingsessions)

Building

Evaluation Measures

Technology
1. a)TeacherswillreporttotheCurriculumCoordinatorhowtheyuseiPadstodifferentiate,
collaborate,andassesstheirstudentsatleastonceamonth.
b)TeacherswillshareduringstaffmeetingshowtheyuseiPadstodifferentiate,collaborate,
andassesstheirstudentsonarotatingbasisduringeverytwoweeks.
2. Teacherswillfilloutasurveyaboutthequalityofthetechnologyworkshopsattheendof
eachtrainingsession.
3. a)TeacherswillfilloutasurveyabouttheirabilitytousethedifferentLearningManagement
Systemstwoweeksafterthefirstdayofschool.

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

b)TheITCoordinatorwillsendoutmonthlyemailstoteachersabouteaseofuseof
LearningManagementSystems.
4. TheITCoordinatorwillcreateacomprehensivereportontheuseandimplementationof
LMSsandmobiletechnologytwiceayearandsendittotheDirectorforreview.

Team Building
1. Followingtheworkshops,participantswillreporttheybegintofeelapartofaprofessional
learningcommunitythroughfillingoutananonymousonlinesurvey.
2. Participantswillfilloutasurveyaboutthequalityoftheteambuildingtrainingattheendof
theretreat.
3. Supervisorswillinterviewparticipantsabouttheirperceptionsofbeingapartofa
ProfessionalLearningCommunityaspartoftheGoalSettinginterviewsattheendofeach
year.

Objectives
Afterattendingthetechnologyworkshop,teacherswillbeabletoteachandassessstudents

usingiPads.
Afterattendingthetechnologyworkshop,teacherswillknowhowtousetheschools

learningmanagementsystems.
Attheendoftheteambuildingworkshop,teacherswilldevelopnewsocialandprofessional
linkageswithcolleagues.

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.

References
AnotherInternationalSchool.(2013).ParentStudentHandbook.Somewhere,India.
AnotherInternationalSchool.(2014).AnotherTechnologyPolicyBook.Unpublisheddocument.
Hayden,M.,&Thompson,J.(1995).Internationalschoolsandinternationaleducation:A
relationshipreviewed.OxfordReviewofEducation,21(3),327.Retrievedfrom
http://ezproxy.library.capella.edu/
IngersollR.M.(2001).Teacherturnoverandteachershortages:anorganizationalanalysis.American
EducationalResearchJournal38:499534.
MacDonald,J.(2006).Theinternationalschoolindustry:Examininginternationalschoolsthrough
aneconomiclens.JournalofResearchinInternationalEducation.5(5),191213.
doi:10.1177/1475240906065618
Mancuso,S.,Roberts,L.,&White,G.(2010).Teacherretentionininternationalschools:Thekey
roleofschoolleadership.JournalofResearchinInternationalEducation,(9),306324.doi:
10.1177/1475240910388928
Stirzaker,R.(2004)Staffinduction:Issuessurroundinginductionintointernationalschools.Journal
ofResearchinInternationalEducation.3(31).doi:10.1177/1475240904041464

Another International School- Induction and Technology Training Retreat Proposal by

Ronen Cohen. Last updated, May 05, 2014.