Media Workshop New York: Services - Professional Development

Professional Development

The mission of Media Workshop is to support educators through the process of integrating new media and technology into the practice of teaching and learning. We provide constructive learning experiences that build technical competency as well as model thoughtful and creative uses of new media and technology.

For nearly ten years Media Workshop's professional development program, which encompasses the majority of work we do with both our Partner Schools and Collaborations, has focused on supporting educators in their efforts to integrate media and technology into the classroom. While we recognize the pragmatic need for developing skills in technology, we believe that an educators' understanding about the impact of new media upon teaching and learning is as crucial as the connection to academic excellence, performance standards, classroom management, pedagogy and the realities of the daily classroom environment.

Media Workshop offers an experiential hands-on approach to learning, adaptable across a wide range of curriculum and educational settings that can be customized to suit the needs of individual schools and organizations. Delivered through a series of seminars, workshops, and one-on-one consulting support, Media Workshop's model is holistic and flexible and addresses the needs of individual educators working within a larger school context. Through a variety of engaging activities and unique strategies, our professional development offers educators a rich, multi-layered experience in learning how to effectively use new media in the classroom. The following are descriptions of some of the unique services we provide that can be adjusted to meet the needs of any school or organization.

Media Workshop bases its work with educators on years of experience in schools, as well as research conducted by the Center for Children and Technology, our collaborator in designing the professional development model. Through a number of methods, we design and deliver a customized program that focuses on the content, curriculum and process, not the technology or product itself. Media Workshop is committed to long-term support and development, and works closely with teachers in designing and implementing these innovative strategies into their curricula.

Starting with the educator's own goals, abilities and strategies, we go beyond the basics of technical, skills-based training and help educators to thoughtfully and constructively use new media tools to support their own teaching goals and make connections to performance standards. This enables the curriculum design process to be one that is meaningful and appropriate to the educator's own vision of teaching and learning. A strong foundation of knowledge in new media technology tends to increase technical competency and makes educators less apprehensive, enabling them to generate more thoughtful and creative ways to integrate new media tools into their own teaching programs. We believe this process is critical to the successful integration of media and technology into the classroom of today and tomorrow.

“Media Workshop supported me in my goal to create and frame dynamic learning experiences for my students. They’ve guided me in ways to raise questions that get at the very heart of what is seen when we turn on the TV, go to the movies, or read a magazine. - Ellen Wong (Art Teacher, NYC Upper Lab School)

To find out more about our offerings and cost for services, e-mail Donna Schnupp at dschnupp@mediaworkshop.org or call Media Workshop at 212.782.0310.