The Purpose of Professional Development Ultimately, professional development should directly impact how students learn and should positively impact student achievement. This places the emphasis of the training on people, not technology. In one national study, 73 percent of the teachers surveyed indicated that their primary motivation for participating in professional development activities is to improve student achievement. 1 The professional development puzzle is complex, and wanting to provide effective opportunities for training is much different than succeeding. All schools and districts must address professional development and the demands it places on funding, scheduling, and other resources. However, by incorporating professional development as an integral component of your school's master plan, the goals and objectives for the school and district will help to apportion time, funds, and other resources to your professional development needs. Effective professional development begins with clear goals that support the school or district mission and match long-term planning efforts. A school's technology plan, whether separate or incorporated in a larger master plan, will include goals and objectives to realize the vision of instructional technology use. Professional development is one strategy to achieve these goals and objectives and should be considered when developing the technology plan. The specific professional development activities may not be spelled out at the global planning stage, but consideration must be given to professional development as a component of the total technology plan. Just to Review Data from the assessment of the current state of technology dictates needs, which are verbalized as goals and objectives that require strategies. Professional development activities are strategies.