On an adventure!
At the beginning of every family vacation we took, my mom would always look back at us as we were driving away and say, "Well guys, we're off an an adventure!" It was cheesy, but we couldn't ever disagree. And an adventure we would have.
As I close out this school year and look forward to the next, I have to tell myself that I'm off on an adventure. After 5 years of teaching in middle school, and 7 years of teaching technology, I now have a job I have applied for more times than I have fingers and toes: ed tech coach. My official title is STEM Instructional Technology Specialist, but if I had my choice (and maybe I'll call myself this anyway :-)) Technology Integration Collaborator. Hence the name of the blog.
I've been in the classroom long enough to know that the terms "coach" and "specialist" among others can come off as being "better than" or I "know more than you" and so on, and I want to avoid that. I want teachers to know I'm there to collaborate with them to help their kids learn even more and be even more engaged.
I have blogged before on occasion, but have had a hard time getting myself to do it on a regular basis (especially given the 3 short people running around at home), so this challenge is exactly what I need to keep myself on track with blogging. And, given the new position, I think I'll have plenty to write about. Specifically, my role will be supporting our middle school Computers, STEM, and Industrial Tech teachers and our ITECS program. ITECS is a group of 40 teachers or so who come to monthly meetings regarding edtech, share these topics with teachers at their campuses through 15 min intro sessions at the beginning of their weekly site-based PD, and who have an iPad cart to share among their team.
I would love to hear anyone's thoughts about any program you have for teachers that might fall into this category; i.e., training your "firestarters" to go out and be advocates for edtech at their schools. (I got this term from Peter Hooper during a recent Twitter chat of the AZ Google Educators Group.)
I've got some plans for the program, but I'm always interested in what research says and what others are doing, so please share if you know of something that's worked well at your site OR something that definitely has NOT worked well.
Edtech and PD together have long been a passion of mine, ever since I did my master's in educational technology at Northern Arizona University in 2008. Since then I've spent tons of time pouring over blog posts, twitter feeds, and more; just hungry to know more about this field. Now the rubber hits the road. Thanks for joining me on this journey! I can't wait to "meet" you! Hopefully I can actually meet some of you at ISTE this summer in San Antonio!
As I close out this school year and look forward to the next, I have to tell myself that I'm off on an adventure. After 5 years of teaching in middle school, and 7 years of teaching technology, I now have a job I have applied for more times than I have fingers and toes: ed tech coach. My official title is STEM Instructional Technology Specialist, but if I had my choice (and maybe I'll call myself this anyway :-)) Technology Integration Collaborator. Hence the name of the blog.
I've been in the classroom long enough to know that the terms "coach" and "specialist" among others can come off as being "better than" or I "know more than you" and so on, and I want to avoid that. I want teachers to know I'm there to collaborate with them to help their kids learn even more and be even more engaged.
I have blogged before on occasion, but have had a hard time getting myself to do it on a regular basis (especially given the 3 short people running around at home), so this challenge is exactly what I need to keep myself on track with blogging. And, given the new position, I think I'll have plenty to write about. Specifically, my role will be supporting our middle school Computers, STEM, and Industrial Tech teachers and our ITECS program. ITECS is a group of 40 teachers or so who come to monthly meetings regarding edtech, share these topics with teachers at their campuses through 15 min intro sessions at the beginning of their weekly site-based PD, and who have an iPad cart to share among their team.
I would love to hear anyone's thoughts about any program you have for teachers that might fall into this category; i.e., training your "firestarters" to go out and be advocates for edtech at their schools. (I got this term from Peter Hooper during a recent Twitter chat of the AZ Google Educators Group.)
Edtech and PD together have long been a passion of mine, ever since I did my master's in educational technology at Northern Arizona University in 2008. Since then I've spent tons of time pouring over blog posts, twitter feeds, and more; just hungry to know more about this field. Now the rubber hits the road. Thanks for joining me on this journey! I can't wait to "meet" you! Hopefully I can actually meet some of you at ISTE this summer in San Antonio!
Photo credit: Dierdre Shetler, "Arizona Highway"
Hi Dierdre, We're very excited that you're joining ISTE's Ed Tech Coaches PLN with Blogging Buddies! Looking forward to connecting and learning from all of your experience!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for coordinating this! I'm excited to learn more!
DeleteHi Dierdre, I am super excited to be one of your Blogging Buddies. It sounds like you have an exciting position ahead of you. I work as the one and only Educational Technologist at a small PreK through 12th grade school. I love the term "firestarter". I haven't heard that before. I also appreciate your comments about the job title. This has been the first year that I wasn't in the classroom for at least one class and I have felt very disconnected from the teachers. I have some who invite me in to work with them but the majority don't. I am excited to get back in the classroom for one section of Pre-Algebra in the 2017-2018 school year. I look forward to reading your blog posts and sharing ideas! We are "off on and adventure"!
ReplyDeleteHi Debra,
DeleteNice to "meet" you! That's awesome for you that you only have one school to work with! Lots of opportunities for learning. I'm glad you still get to connect with one class next year, I think that helps a lot! I''m still trying to figure out where I'll plug in on that level. I look forward to our continued conversations!
Congratulations on the new job!!
ReplyDeleteI used to ask my mom sometimes where we were going, and she'd say, "We're going crazy, Daniel." I really like your attitude about this transition in your life along with your perspective stemming from your background. Learning and growing together is an adventure with its valleys and mountains, but we're in it together. It's quite helpful too that you know what teachers in the building tend to think when it comes to your role. Indeed, this is why our foreign teacher head here calls herself "Supportvisor" in lieu of Supervisor.
On a local level, who do you collaborate with while planning? I've discovered it's very difficult to do solo.
Hi Daniel! That's great that you have a colleague using the title Supportvisor :-) I feel like words make more of a difference than we realize. As I'm just starting my new job, I'm not exactly sure how the collaboration will work, however I do know there will be a person in a Math/Tech content specialist role who I will be working with, as well as my supervisors who are Assistant Directors of STEM and Math. There is also a group of local tech coaches who meet together periodically to bounce things off of each other.
DeleteI look forward to learning with you in the coming months!
It's good to know that there's at least one person on the local level teaming up with you. Has the Math/Tech specialist or STEM/Math ADs mentioned anything about times for collaboration or digital methods to stay in touch? I ask not to force the issue but to see what has worked for them and what could assist you.
DeleteBy local tech coaches, are you referring to ITECS? That within the district, county, or state? Sounds supportive too!
Congratulations on the new job and I'm looking forward to meeting you at ISTE this summer!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'll see you in June!
DeleteHi! I'm one of your blogging buddies! I love the concept of "firestarters" - thank you for sharing Peter's words! This job truly IS an adventure...but that is the most exciting part! Education technology is constantly evolving and changing and so our jobs stay new. One thing that I can say DOESN'T change is this: We are the relationships we build. I feel like success as a coach (or Technology Integration Collaborator ;) depends on this. When the educators we work with see our vulnerability, experience our passion and feel our desire to help them grow and learn, magic happens. That magic can't be found in a webtool or app and is my favorite thing (hands down) we do. Build relationships first. They are the key! Can't wait to learn with you :) -Alli
ReplyDeleteAlli, thanks so much for that advice! It is very sound advice that I intend to take. Thanks for being a blogging buddy, can't wait to keep learning together!
DeleteHi Dierdre! I am one of your blogging buddies as well. So great to connect with you. I remember when I transitioned from teaching in the classroom to becoming a Technology Integrationist (we called it Technology Specialist way back then about 18 years ago). It is quite a change, and can take some getting used to, but you definitely have the right mindset as a "Collaborator". I look forward to meeting you ate ISTE as well!
ReplyDelete