The technology and professional development at my elementary
school is at a low point. Many of the teachers are older and don’t like to use
technology. Every classroom is equipped with an active smart board; we have two
smart tables, several iPad class sets, and a computer lab… Yet we are still not
a tech savvy school. I do believe that professional development has the ability
to empower educators and help them succeed while using technology. My school is
a Title 1 school, and many of these technology devices were purchased with
Title 1 funds, but no professional development was offered in the usage of the
materials, so they sit unused because of the lack of knowledge. Our media
specialist holds the duty of overseeing the media center and all technology
equipment solely. I see this as a blessing and a curse because it causes the
media specialist to be pulled in several directions with no assistance, but it
offers a way to gain a position on the school’s leadership team. Conducting
professional development within the school offers the media specialist the
opportunity to do what teachers do all day every day, which is teach, but form
their lesson plan to fit Adult Education and the mind of a student who is also
a teacher. This is a challenging task, but pushes the individual to become
creative and think outside the box.
In the article ISTE Standards Coaches, several points are presented to
assist a media specialist while he/she converts to a stellar technology coach.
- Visionary
Leadership
a.
Work with the school/district leadership team
for a comprehensive technology vision
b.
Participate in all levels of technology
strategic plans
c.
Rally for support of your school/district
technology plan
d.
Implement strategies for continued technology
innovations
- Teaching,
Learning, and Assessments
- Coach teachers on the use of new technology options and standards
- Present technology that can assist with diverse student needs that have been research tested
- Teach teachers to use technology for student advancement and productivity
- Teach teachers to use technology to enhance student critical thinking skills
- Teach teacher to tailor their technology curriculum to fit the needs of all students
- Explain the importance of instructional design for student understanding
- Explain the importance of content aligned assessments within technology usage
- Teach and explain the importance of collecting and analyzing student data and results
- Digital
Age Learning Environments
a.
Teach effective classroom management to maximize
collaboration
b.
Maintain the membership and upkeep of digital
materials
c.
Teach teachers the benefits of online and
blended learning models
d.
Work with the school/district to adopt new
student learning technology
e.
Serve as a help desk liaison for software and
hardware problems
f.
Include teachers and administration in
evaluating technology materials
g.
Use several forms of digital communication to
collaborate
- Professional
Development and Program Evaluation
a.
Conduct needs assessments to measure the impact
on student learning
b.
Fully design, develop, and deliver technology
based professional learning
c.
Survey teachers to evaluate the effectiveness
and comprehension of professional learning activities
- Digital
Citizenship
a.
Promote digital tools that are accessible to all
students and teachers
b.
Remember Fair Use and Copyright when designing
and delivering instructions
c.
Promote diversity and global awareness to
increase collaboration amongst all parties
- Content
Knowledge and Professional Growth
a.
Strengthen pedagogical knowledge in technology
integration
b.
Continue technology training to improve your
professional practice
c.
Regularly evaluate yourself and reflect on your
goals
Being a technology coach is not an easy job, but has the benefits of
being a rewarding opportunity. I personally believe it embodies the aspects of
a teacher, business professional, salesman, and public speaker all rolled into
one. Things that I believe a media specialist can do to begin the journey of a
technology coach could be:
- Work with your school administration to
record faculty meetings and professional development classes.
- Integrate presentations into formats such
as Prezi for meetings.
- Create a school webpage/wiki that is
accessible by password for only school employees.
- This website can embody
teacher profiles with their technology specialties
- The recorded meetings and
professional development classes can be stored and viewed here.
- Announcements for teachers
only can be displayed on the home page (Treats in the Lounge or Paperwork
is due to the Front Office by 3pm)
- Different committee can place
all meeting times and locations on one calendar to minimize double
booking of staff
- Forums about specific
parents/students/school issues
- The Horizon Report list several tools to
expand a teacher classroom with technology
- http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2014-horizon-k12-preview.pdf
- Present on 1-2 technology
tools from the Horizon Report per staff meeting/week/bi-weekly
- Meet with grades/departments
and present on which technology tools could benefit their students.
My school is also equipped with an abundance of technology, however, I do see a lot of integration throughout the school. Almost all of the teachers use the ActiveBoard to teach instruction and I also see students using it during centers. We have several iPad carts that are housed in each grade level (each teacher has 6 iPads in their classroom), however, a majority of the iPads are being used to play games. I feel that the upper grades could be using them to create projects or videos to illustrate their learning or understanding of a concept. Currently our fifth grade classrooms have started using Kahoot to active prior knowledge or to review topics. I have also recently led them towards Newsela and Tweentribune to access a variety of texts that are leveled by Lexile. I just think teachers are overwhelmed with everything else that they have to do and the thought of one more idea (no matter how grand it is) makes them want to stick to what they already know and do. Coaches need to help alleviate the added stress and provide as much training as possible and remind teachers that students are much more engaged through the use of technology.
ReplyDeleteI also work in a Title 1 school that has been equipped with several nice computer labs and most recently four carts (class sets) of Chrome books. I wouldn't say that our school isn't tech savvy, but I would say that we are far from where we ought to be. Like you, Ashley, I work with many older teachers who are simply tired. They are great teachers, but the process they use is tried and tested through their own experience and therefore, they aren't really interested in how technology could benefit them or their students. Part of that dilemma is that in order to use it, they must learn it. Hence, your discussion on professional learning. One of the obstacles I see for my media specialist in providing professional learning is that we also have a technology staff person and an academic coach. Because we have these other staff members, the media specialist has less to do with providing learning opportunities for the teachers. Also, the criteria for professional development must be approved by the board of education in order to "count" for professional learning units, and the teachers want to pursue only the professional learning that is required and gives them credit. So...should I ever get the opportunity to work in this school as the media specialist, I have work to do! I love the suggestions listed in your post and I am optimistic that in spite of the obstacles I've just noted, there is still very much a place for teaching the teachers how to integrate technology through the media center. I agree with Christina that "coaches need to help alleviate the added stress" and as a younger generation of teachers begin to come into the classroom, I believe it will become easier to integrate the technology that our students need to be successful in our technologically advancing world.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your assessment of what it takes to be a technology coach! Having the aspects of teacher, business professional, salesman and public speaker is a great way to describe what a tech savvy media specialists needs to be when it comes to professional development.
ReplyDeleteI think it is critical that the Media Specialist show enthusiasm for what they are teaching (sales / public speaking).
I think it is critical the MS be well educated, well versed and functional in their topic (teacher/ public speaker).
I think it is critical that the MS know when the timing is right to introduce something new – knowing what is on the horizon for the educators they are teaching. (business professional / sales ).
I think it is critical that the MS show staff how the tool could be a valuable asset rather than a technology burden (sales).
Lastly, I think it is critical that the staff you are responsible for educating on these items respects you as a person, an educator and a media specialist. This is taken care of on a daily basis, every day of the school year. Once they know how much you care about your job and the education of your students, they will care to hear what you know.
I completely agree with your assessment of what it takes to be a technology coach! Having the aspects of teacher, business professional, salesman and public speaker is a great way to describe what a tech savvy media specialists needs to be when it comes to professional development.
ReplyDeleteI think it is critical that the Media Specialist show enthusiasm for what they are teaching (sales / public speaking).
I think it is critical the MS be well educated, well versed and functional in their topic (teacher/ public speaker).
I think it is critical that the MS know when the timing is right to introduce something new – knowing what is on the horizon for the educators they are teaching. (business professional / sales ).
I think it is critical that the MS show staff how the tool could be a valuable asset rather than a technology burden (sales).
Lastly, I think it is critical that the staff you are responsible for educating on these items respects you as a person, an educator and a media specialist. This is taken care of on a daily basis, every day of the school year. Once they know how much you care about your job and the education of your students, they will care to hear what you know.
I think you have selected some great topics to share with teachers to get the introduction to technology ball rolling. I have come to realize, as a business teacher, there are teachers who love technology and then there are those teachers who hate technology. But teachers have to realize that the use of technology in the classroom is only evolving. Introducing small chunks of technology such as using Prezis during faculty meetings and recording faculty meetings are excellent ways to expose teachers to technology. Incorporating technology tools into daily tasks for teachers allows them to become comfortable with different types of technology, which could possible lead them into incorporating some type of tech tool into their own classrooms/lesson plans.
ReplyDeleteOne of our roles as a media specialist is to work collaboratively with the teachers. In our future positions in any particular school, if we could find one teacher who is enthusiastic about technology to use as a partner for learning, teaching and demonstrating technology in the classroom, that could be our way in to actively show the benefits and results for students. It is important to set goals in relation to technology training and implementation --knowing that the process will not happen overnight.
ReplyDeleteThis could be a 3 to 5 year plan (minimum)
I have found that to be true also, that there is more technology at my school than those that are able to use it. Professional Development is key. At the school where I worked as a teacher, the Assistant Principal would have Professional Development classes but the content offered was mostly pedagogy, not technology. Perhaps that’s where the media specialist is needed. Media Specialists have to be trained to become the trainer.
ReplyDelete