Ed Tech Specialists in Schools

Several weeks ago, I shared a Google Form that I had made to gain insight on what teachers needed/wanted in ed tech specialist support at their schools. I received 15 responses (I was hoping for more, but I am incredibly grateful to the 15 of you). Here are some of the common themes...

What teachers are hoping for...

• Co-planning & co-teaching
  This allows teachers to step out and do something a little more risky, knowing that someone will be there to help them!
• Observation/feedback/coaching
  I love that people are willing to grow! An important distinction is that this is non-evaluative feedback.
• Help in keeping up with tech trends, tools, & ideas; deciding what to purchase/implement
  With so much out there, it is hard for teachers to keep track of it all, but they are interested in recommendations & ideas about what will give the most "bang for their buck"!
• Sample resources
• Leading or co-leading PD in the building

What teachers do NOT want...

• To be told what to do
  They know their curriculum, content, teaching style, & students best. Honor that!
• To be taught about tech tools with no thought given to classroom integration
  Context is everything - it might be a cool tool, but how does it apply in my classroom?
• To feel judged
  Not everybody is tech-savvy - and people need to know that it's okay!
• Lack of communication or availability
• Doing it for them, rather than teaching them something new
  

Timing/Scheduling

Not surprisingly, teachers want to collaborate during time already built into their day. We may feel like 1:1 help is not as efficient, but it may be the best way to really meet a teacher's needs and create bigger ripples of change!

Final Thoughts

If nothing else came through clearly, this did...RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS! Building positive relationships is a crucial foundation to any other work being done. But that shouldn't be a surprise, right? It's the same with students.

Thank you so much for your feedback - I am carrying these ideas & perspectives with me as I head into my year. Hopefully they can help other tech coaches out there, too - feel free to share!