Pay Now or Pay Later Without effective professional development and adequate support, teachers may not effectively integrate technology into their teaching and learning activities. The amount of technology training teachers receive directly impacts how technology is used in the classroom and, consequently, how and what students learn. Inadequate funding to support professional development can result in negative returns as expensive equipment that could support teaching and learning sits idle or is used ineffectively. Lesson Overview This lesson proposes that the characteristics of good professional development are not unique to technology and lessons learned from model programs can guide you in the development of your own activities. Planning for professional development starts with the school or district Technology Plan and provides data to support whether the training has met goals and objectives established in the Technology Plan. This lesson walks through the professional development planning process to help you make appropriate decisions in future efforts. Lesson Objectives At the conclusion of this lesson, you will be able to Describe the purpose of professional development List components of good professional development Explain confounding factors specific to technology professional development Plan for technology professional development Match professional development activities to the school or district technology plan Choose an appropriate model for delivering professional development activities Assess the basic skills requirements of activities and participants Project the costs of necessary resources Incorporate mechanisms to support and follow up activities Determine methods to evaluate the activity