Professional development and program evaluation
ISTE Standard 4 - Technology coaches conduct needs assessments, develop technology-related professional learning programs, and evaluate the impact on instructional practice and student learning.
Development of School-Wide Technology Integration Plan
In this, my third year as Digital Learning Coach, I feel like I'm finally getting some traction on a working plan for successful tech integration. The document to the left is Madison's working document for sensible technology integration. To be effective, however, it needs to incorporate the ideas of our teachers. As I met with grade levels, I gradually released responsibility for the specifics of the goals to the teachers themselves.
Click image above to see the full working document used in collaboration with my staff
Each grade level created year-long goals for integration of technology similar to this Third grade example. Click to view.
My Fifth grad team expressed in interest in using SeeSaw to help them reach their technology goal. Here is the complete document Michael Lamey and I used to support them in this process. Click to view.
During each grade level collaboration we worked together to create beginning, middle, and end of year goals that support their grade level objectives. I presented the information in the slide show, then as the grade level set their goals, I typed them into the shared document. It was important that this discussion was primarily driven by the teachers, as I wanted them to take ownership. In previous feedback from my staff, they told me that they like having time to work on technology integration as a team.
Grade Level Goal Setting
Technology Goals in Action: 5th Grade's SeeSaw Project
In this project, our 5th grade teachers expressed an interest in using technology to build on their ELA and Math skills. Michael Lamay and I developed a PD plan to help the teachers implement SeeSaw. SeeSaw allows students to interact and collaborate on publishing their writing. This process, which took place over approximately three weeks, began with a two-hour grade level collaboration/PD session. From there each teacher began using SeeSaw with some level of support from me.
Impact & Reflection
Our school has tried an integration plan that spanned two years and only involved my principal and I and our TIS director. It was a learning experience for me but not very effective in practice as we did not have the full buy-in of the teachers. This year, the Digital Learning Coaches were free to create their own technology plans with our school's leadership teams. Teacher agency was a primary goal for me in creating a plan. I'm fortunate that I have two years previous experience with my staff, leading technology walks, staff PD's, and feedback surveys. Through these processes I have built trusting relationships with them.
The impact was very positive and productive. I encouraged teachers to set their own grade- level goals, and this was well received. Their input was much more valuable than anything I could have come up with myself. As this implementation is just beginning the total impact is yet to be seen, but based on teachers initial feedback from our collaborations, it will be a conversation we continue throughout the year.