Throughout this course, I have learned numerous strategies for becoming an effective technology leader. The role of the instructional technology coach is to work with teachers to share new and relevant tools that can be integrated in the classroom. The instructional coach should work alongside the teacher to improve technology use among students and teachers. Being able to communicate effectively with other teachers, building a bond so the teachers want to learn from you, and being open and honest with what needs to be accomplished are essential components of being a successful technology coach. It is important for the coach to collaborate with teachers rather than simply telling them what to do.
The partnership philosophy can often conquer some if not all of the challenges technology coaches face. It is all about the coach and teachers treating each other as equals. It is about ensuring that teachers know they are important and their voice matters. The partnership philosophy represents an open relationship that fosters communication and understanding. It is important for instructional technology coaches to give the teachers they are working with choice about what they learn and how they learn best. For instance, I may have an amazing Web 2.0 tool that I think would work well in a certain teacher’s classroom. If that teacher is not interested in learning about that tool, it makes no sense and does very little good for me to force the teacher to learn about it. Instead, I should find a tool that the teacher is interested in and wants to use in their classroom.
Through the individual teacher technology assessment and the coaching journals, I was able to experience exactly what was discussed in our textbook. Working one on one with a teacher using the partnership method proved to be successful because both my colleague and I learned from one another. We each brought something different to the table and were able to have an overall positive learning experience.
The partnership philosophy can often conquer some if not all of the challenges technology coaches face. It is all about the coach and teachers treating each other as equals. It is about ensuring that teachers know they are important and their voice matters. The partnership philosophy represents an open relationship that fosters communication and understanding. It is important for instructional technology coaches to give the teachers they are working with choice about what they learn and how they learn best. For instance, I may have an amazing Web 2.0 tool that I think would work well in a certain teacher’s classroom. If that teacher is not interested in learning about that tool, it makes no sense and does very little good for me to force the teacher to learn about it. Instead, I should find a tool that the teacher is interested in and wants to use in their classroom.
Through the individual teacher technology assessment and the coaching journals, I was able to experience exactly what was discussed in our textbook. Working one on one with a teacher using the partnership method proved to be successful because both my colleague and I learned from one another. We each brought something different to the table and were able to have an overall positive learning experience.