Standards
Instructional Technologists help students, teachers, and administrators reach the standards and benchmarks of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) for learning, teaching, and leading in the digital age. I worked with all of these populations across all disciplines. I coached teachers and administrators by providing a vision and leadership to build a learning community that uses the most effective instructional and assessment techniques to reach the standards in all subject areas. While these standards apply to instructional coaches for technology, they also apply to my work as a wellness coach.
Listed below are the ISTE standards for Instructional Technologists in this coaching role. Included are examples of my work at my previous school Alexandria Country Day School (ACDS). The ISTE standards were revised after my time at ACDS. Note: To see contributions from my international teaching and during my time at Washington International School, please access the "contributions" PDFs in the Documents section of this portfolio.
Listed below are the ISTE standards for Instructional Technologists in this coaching role. Included are examples of my work at my previous school Alexandria Country Day School (ACDS). The ISTE standards were revised after my time at ACDS. Note: To see contributions from my international teaching and during my time at Washington International School, please access the "contributions" PDFs in the Documents section of this portfolio.
Visionary Leadership
Technology Coaches inspire and participate in developing and implementing a shared vision for the comprehensive integration of technology to promote excellence and support transformational change throughout the instructional environment.
- Initiated and led the development of an "Information & Communications Literacies" (ICL) as opposed to an "Information & Communications Technology" (ICT) approach while also infusing specific literacies (information, media, visual, design, and technology) across the curriculum. This process included the creation of the "ICL Team," which included the Director of Technology, the Librarian, and myself. I communicated information about this initiative through staff presentations (example), the ICL Update weekly digital newsletter, the Innovative Practices school blog (no longer published), and the New Staff Orientation website.
- Initiated and led the development of the ICL Strategic Vision and Plan. Coordinated and ran meetings with the ICL Team to create a plan that included action steps.
- Introduced the Curriculum Collaboration Review system and helped manage its implementation. Provided professional development support.
- Supported the rollout and implementation of the iPad Pilot program through full-day curriculum meetings in the summer and during school year meetings. Provided "just in time" student support when requested and regular tech lab times for students participating in the pilot.
- Wrote the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to be more constructive in what students could do (as opposed to not doing) while involving students in the rewrite.
- Offered the option of transforming the schedule away from fixed technology classes with a model of "just in time" teaching sessions connected to ICL integrated into units of study for each grade level.
- Collaborated with teammates to write the ICL Standards and Benchmarks.
- Initiated and supported the writing of a school-wide student research process.
- Connected to the parent community through face-to-face workshops and virtually via the parent resource site.
Teaching, Learning & Assessments
Technology coaches assist teachers in using technology effectively to assess student learning, differentiate instruction, and provide rigorous, relevant, and engaging learning experiences for all students.
- Reviewed and re-wrote standards and benchmarks for Grades K-5 Technology curriculum. Re-wrote with ICL approach incorporating standards to support units of study at each grade level.
- Developed the Curriculum Collaboration Review system to provide a structured way to review current study units and create new ones.
- The Curriculum Collaboration Review system included:
- Applied the Understanding by Design (UbD) construct and the UbD unit planning template that I adapted for ACDS.
- Supported a team approach with teachers to facilitate the unit planning meetings.
- Included the learning specialists to help differentiate units for content, process, and product.
- Applied the TPACK approach to technology, pedagogy, and content curriculum development.
- Introduced a wide variety of Web 2.0 tools and video production to support student creativity and communication of their understanding. (e.g., Prezi, Google presentation, VoiceThread, Mindmeister)
- Supported teacher initiatives to use web-based instructional tools such as Xtramath, Raz Kids, Khan Academy, and grade-level blogs.
- Researched and wrote the rough draft template for the portfolio pilot.
Digital Age Learning Environments
Technology coaches create and support effective digital-age learning environments to maximize the learning of all students.
- Supported the introduction and use of a Learning Management System (Haiku) and expanded the use of Google Apps to further the use of blended learning.
- Collaborated with teachers to find iPad apps and Web 2.0 tools to meet the learning needs of their students.
- Authored the Web Resources and New Teacher Orientation websites to engage students and teachers to use various digital tools.
- Authored the ICL Update weekly digital newsletter to staff, the Innovative Practices school blog (no longer published), my own Lessons Learned blog, and the Ed Tech Co-Op podcast and used Twitter to communicate locally and globally.
Prof Development & Program Evaluation
Technology coaches conduct needs assessments, develop technology-related professional learning programs, and evaluate the impact on instructional practice and student learning.
- Consistently supported the development of a teacher professional development and accountability strategic plan to incorporate NETS-T based on Charlotte Danielson's framework for teaching.
- Promoted idea for a differentiated professional development system based on teacher and student needs that include teachers sharing their learning after attending conferences.
- Provided workshops during teacher PD days, parent meetings, and after school.
- Created and authored the school Innovative Practices blog (no longer published) to highlight and celebrate our students and teachers.
- Created the iPad Learning Community Google Document to share resources and best practices for iPad use.
- Developed a section of the student-oriented Web Resources for Learning website for teacher professional development centered on specific annual initiatives.
- Met with teachers individually and in grade-level teams to discuss curriculum and provide just-in-time PD.
- Provided assessment of the iPad Pilot program by interviewing lead teachers for the Ed Tech Co-Op podcast (shows 13 & 14).
- Developed the ICL Update weekly digital newsletter to spotlight best practices among our teachers.
Digital Citizenship
Technology coaches model and promote digital citizenship.
- Consistently cited image and information sources on school websites, personal blogs, and Twitter.
- Added digital citizenship lessons into the ICL curriculum.
- The ICL Strategic Plan aims to introduce digital global communication opportunities to our students and teachers.
Content Knowledge & Professional Growth
Technology coaches demonstrate professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions in content, pedagogical, and technological areas, as well as adult learning and leadership, and continuously deepen their knowledge and expertise.
- Used the ACDS Innovative Practices, the Lessons Learned blogs, and the Ed Tech Co-Op podcast that I co-hosted with Dr. Mark Hofer and Jeff Utecht to communicate my professional skills while providing leadership to model lifelong learning and risk-taking.
- Previously wrote for the Utech Tips (no longer published) international blog and co-hosted the Shifting Our Schools podcast with Jeff Utecht.
- Write articles for journals to share innovative practices. See the Documents section to access them.
- Reviewer for the NAIS 2012 Stories of Excellence publication.
- Attended and presented at conferences (links to presentations/workshops): The Learning 2.008 Shanghai, the William & Mary TPACK Stories, and the Center for Innovation in Learning Design iLab conferences.
- Designed learning opportunities for staff to personalize their learning instead of a "sit & get" one size fits all approach. Developing Curriculum Review System | Learning Stations for PD (WIS Primary School example)
- Consistently accessed Twitter posts, blogs, podcasts, professional journals, and books on education innovation and attended meetings with leaders at neighboring schools to expand my professional learning network.
- Used this portfolio to reflect upon and document my professional growth.