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Teaching Teachers About Technology
By Troy Deman 1/28/2024
Technology has become an essential part of the classroom in the last two decades. To assist with the incorporation of technology into traditional technology environments technology facilitators or coaches have been established in school settings to support teachers using technology and “guide how, when, and why to incorporate technology into the curriculum” (Transform learning through technology, page 1). While it’s easy to assume the job and role of these facilitators and coaches have stayed the same, due to changes in technological advancement and understanding as well as different approaches to teaching with technology, their duties have changed greatly over time.
During the early 2000s as technology first became integrated into the classroom, teachers were taught by technology facilitators how to use common computer programs such as Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. It was then hoped that teachers would share their knowledge of how to use these programs with their students. The problem with this system is that while teachers taught about technology and programs in the classroom, they didn’t use the technology to help them teach.
By the late 2000s early 2010s the name changed from technology facilitators to technology coaches “Since it was recognized that educators needed higher quality professional development” (Transform learning through technology, page 2). The hope was to teach teachers how to effectively incorporate technology and pedagogy to improve student learning. However, this strategy still involved one and done training and the technology coach had full control over what technology and strategies should be used by teachers.
The latest change to technology coaches was brought about by increased research and understanding of professional development in use of technology for teaching. Now the act of training teachers on the incorporation of technology into the classroom is much more collaborative. Today the technology coach “ works in collaboration with both educators and educational leaders, listening to their needs and developing relevant professional development opportunities” (Transform learning through technology, page 2). The one and done training strategies was also done away with as now coaches use “iterative, cyclical coaching frameworks to provide ongoing support and development strategies” (Transform learning through technology, page 2).
While one might question why this information is important to understand for teachers today, especially since most of us won’t be technology coaches ourselves. However, it’s important to remember that even though we might not be coaches ourselves, in this collaborative style of technology coaching we all have to be willing and able to support and collaborate with others and the technology coach themselves on how to incorporate technology in order to create the best possible environment for students to learn. It’s also important to keep in mind that as technology has changed and advanced into the school setting, we have had to change and advance how we train on and incorporate technology in the classroom. So, we must be prepared to further change and adapt our approach to technology in the classrooms as technology changes and improves in the future.
Thanks for reading my first attempt at a blog.
If you want to learn more about technology coaches and the Intergration of technology in the classroom, visit the link Transform learning through technology. for more.
Make sure to also follow my twitter or x @troymdemant
Crompton, H. (2022). Transform learning through technology: A guide to the ISTE standards for coaches. Hawker Brownlow Education.
Inclusive learning in education
I finished reading this inclusive education article, I started to gain an understanding of how important it is to have inclusive classrooms. While in an inclusive classroom, children start to understand the importance of others around them. These classrooms value diversity, inclusion, and bringing every student together. By doing this, it will create a safe environment for the children in their class. I also learned that removing children from the classroom will create reasons for resentment and cause the child to be confused. Every child should stay in the classroom, no matter what the situation is. Every classroom is built to make every child feel included and wanted. Teachers must create this safe space for the kids, and the parents must also provide that for them. Some of these classrooms have flexible seating arrangements and special tools to help focus children when needed in the classroom. Teachers also learn different strategies on how to navigate a lesson if a child learns in a different manner.
This image gives an example of what it is like to be in an inclusive classroom.
Inclusive Learning Post
After reading the inclusive learning article , I learned just what inclusion is and how it impacts classrooms. Inclusion “means that all children, no matter their racial, religious, or ethnic background, gender, learning style, or ability have equal access to educational opportunities in a learning environment where all students are equally safe, valued, and respected”. It is extremely important to make sure as a future teacher that I create a classroom where everyone feels like they belong. It is important for me to treat every student the same, no matter what their needs are. It is important to know that inclusive classrooms are not to just support students with special needs, everyone benefits from an inclusive classroom. Teachers, parents and students all benefit from inclusion in the classroom. Students especially benefit from inclusive classrooms because interacting and developing friendships with anyone and everyone. As a future teacher it is important for me to get to know my students and their way of learning because I will be able to help them as much and as best as I possibly can.
