To be honest with you, I'm still figuring it out. The person of "coach" means many things: instructor, educator, trainer, mentor. Put the word tech or technology in front of it, and the meaning shifts. What is a tech coach? It's a simple question with a pretty complex answer.
The past year has been a whirlwind, filled with a gamut of emotion. I stepped out of the classroom for the first time in my 15+ years of teaching, and I stepped into a role that has been truly transformative. Over the years, I've seen many colleagues transform from classroom teacher to coach. In that role, they've been a resource to teachers: a go to girl (or guy), with answers, suggestions and questions that push me, and others, to better the craft of teaching.
Fast forward to the new millennium, and colleagues are now stepping into the new role of "tech coach". Be it named Digital Learning Coach, Educational Technology Coach, Tech Integration Specialist, STEM Coach, they all serve the same purpose- improve student learning.
This is accomplished through a process, complete with many layers. What did I think the process looked like? I thought it was me sitting with teachers and designing pedagogically sound learning experiences that purposefully integrate technology. What I have found it to be is quite different. I do spend some days planning those pedagogically sound lessons with classroom teachers, and coaches. I spend other days trouble shooting Chromebooks, BYOD classroom devices, and teacher tablets to name a few. What I must do DAILY in this process is build relationships.
Meaningful coach work is done only when a solid foundation has been built upon a trusting relationship. These relationships can be formed deep in the throes of teacher frustrations. As a "tech coach", one goal is to help lower the anxiety experienced by classroom teachers integrating technology. If I need to be the sounding board of the teachers I work with, then so be it. If I need to create schedules or Chromebook damage logs, then I'll do it.
In the realm of technology, things change constantly. It's important to be connectED. I'm fortunate to have an amazing group of Digital Learning Coaches to work with in my district on a day to day basis. My PLN on Twitter helps keep me informed and relevant in the work that I do. The work is varied, the work is hard, but the work is rewarding.
I recently received a HUGE emotional paycheck from a teacher that I work with. Upon completing a lesson with her and her sixth graders, she said, "Thank you. You make technology less scary." So I leave you with this. What is a tech coach? A tech coach is the person who helps make technology less scary for educators, because at the end of the day we can't expose our students to the deeply intense learning experiences of a 21st Century education if their classroom teachers are not comfortable with technology.
I'm a "tech coach", what's your super power?
The past year has been a whirlwind, filled with a gamut of emotion. I stepped out of the classroom for the first time in my 15+ years of teaching, and I stepped into a role that has been truly transformative. Over the years, I've seen many colleagues transform from classroom teacher to coach. In that role, they've been a resource to teachers: a go to girl (or guy), with answers, suggestions and questions that push me, and others, to better the craft of teaching.
Fast forward to the new millennium, and colleagues are now stepping into the new role of "tech coach". Be it named Digital Learning Coach, Educational Technology Coach, Tech Integration Specialist, STEM Coach, they all serve the same purpose- improve student learning.
This is accomplished through a process, complete with many layers. What did I think the process looked like? I thought it was me sitting with teachers and designing pedagogically sound learning experiences that purposefully integrate technology. What I have found it to be is quite different. I do spend some days planning those pedagogically sound lessons with classroom teachers, and coaches. I spend other days trouble shooting Chromebooks, BYOD classroom devices, and teacher tablets to name a few. What I must do DAILY in this process is build relationships.
Meaningful coach work is done only when a solid foundation has been built upon a trusting relationship. These relationships can be formed deep in the throes of teacher frustrations. As a "tech coach", one goal is to help lower the anxiety experienced by classroom teachers integrating technology. If I need to be the sounding board of the teachers I work with, then so be it. If I need to create schedules or Chromebook damage logs, then I'll do it.
In the realm of technology, things change constantly. It's important to be connectED. I'm fortunate to have an amazing group of Digital Learning Coaches to work with in my district on a day to day basis. My PLN on Twitter helps keep me informed and relevant in the work that I do. The work is varied, the work is hard, but the work is rewarding.
I recently received a HUGE emotional paycheck from a teacher that I work with. Upon completing a lesson with her and her sixth graders, she said, "Thank you. You make technology less scary." So I leave you with this. What is a tech coach? A tech coach is the person who helps make technology less scary for educators, because at the end of the day we can't expose our students to the deeply intense learning experiences of a 21st Century education if their classroom teachers are not comfortable with technology.
I'm a "tech coach", what's your super power?