Unit 3: Models of Professional Development

Overview

Teachers should be the first learners in their classrooms. If this is the case, the EdTech professional should be the first teacher to all learners. Social media, when used correctly, can be a professional development treasure-trove.  Some refer to it as “PD in your pocket” or “PD from your couch”, the constant availability of information to enhance and build up teacher development. Through this activity, you will be able to experience professional development through social media and curate information for a specific group at your school/district.

Performance outcomes

• Candidates will participate in a  Social Media Professional Development such as a webinar, twitter chat, or other. 

• Candidates will be able to use Wakelet to create a curated list of social media resources for a specific group of stakeholders. 

What will you do?

1. Using your social media accounts, begin to search and interact with different hashtags, webinars, or other social media professional development opportunities. Use the activity resources to help you with different hashtags (on Twitter/Instagram) and webinar opportunities. Take the time to explore and gather information. 

2. Share on the TEACH-NOW Community Forum your findings and the hashtags/websites that you have been working with throughout the week.

3. With the help of your campus administrator/coach, choose a subject or grade level that you can curate information for further professional development. 

4. Use Wakelet to curate information and social media ideas/links for your specific group.  Here is an example http://wke.lt/w/s/8R96j 

5. Submit a reflection (using your tool of choice) on Social Media and Professional Development

Report requirements

• Participation in the TEACH-NOW Community Forum based on your social media interactions and exploration this week

• A wakelet that curates information and professional development for a specific group in your school/district

• A reflection on social media and professional development

Overview

As a teacher, building relationships with your students proves to be more important than the content or tools that you use. The same is true for your relationships as a Technology Coach. Building positive and professional relationships with the people you are working with builds a foundation of trust and an understanding of character that can go farther than any tool or technology. Building professional relationships is key in all categories of instructional coaching.

Performance outcomes

• Candidates will practice building relationships with the teachers they serve through dialogues and questions.  

What will you do?

1. With a partner you will develop an example dialogue where one partner will be the coach and the other will be a teacher or administrator.  You may pick from the following scenarios.

   • You are a technology coach that has been tasked with a teacher who is resistant to using technology in his classroom. Work through why this is, discussing specific situations technology would be appropriate for that teacher’s context (be specific about grade level, subject, lesson content, etc.). Think about the reasons educators are often resistant to new technologies or change, and work through some of these challenges in a professional and respectful dialogue.

   • You are a technology coach meeting with the new principal of your school, who is unaware of and resistant to your role and responsibilities in the school. Discuss how you already assist teachers and administration, and plan how the two of you can work together throughout the year. Discuss specifics for how you plan to help certain teachers or departments, and how you can include the principal’s input in your work.

   • You are a technology coach that has been tasked with assisting a teacher who wants to use technology in her classroom, but is unaware of how to get started. Give clear and practical advice based on her classroom (be specific about grade level, subject, lesson content, etc). Suggest specific tools she could use, listen to her concerns, and help her get set up with a few things to start with.

   • You are a principal working with your school’s technology coach, who has not been performing well. Discuss the challenges he has faced in his role, and develop a plan to better support teachers and administration. Suggest actionable items to improve his performance, including specifics about the needs of your school’s students, teachers, and administration.

2. Using the Activity Resources as well as other resources you may find, come up with ideas, questions, and scripts about the chosen scenarios. Be sure to show the importance of relationships and how they are being built. 

3. Using Zoom, Youtube Live or another online recording tool, act out your scenarios through video. You may edit both videos together to make a single submission. Be sure to add titles, names, graphics, etc. to help tell the story of your scenarios. Creativity has no limits! Have fun with this!

4. Make sure your edited video is no longer than 16 minutes (8 minutes per scenario).

Report requirements

• Video showing two scenarios providing examples of the importance and process of building professional relationships for instructional coaching.