Element 6: Coaching

My coaching cycle begins with Inquire. This is when I meet with the teacher to ask questions to determine needs. When this teacher contacted me I would start by asking a few questions:

• What are their goals in regards to both instruction and technology?

• What issues/ problems do they face? 

• What is their attitude/ comfort/ skill level in regards to technology integration in the classroom?

These questions might be asked in person, or through a digital form. At this time I would also schedule a time when I could meet one on one with the teacher to review options and create a plan. Based on the answers I could begin preparing a toolbox of resources for the teacher. This tool box might include links to websites, video/document tutorials, names of tools and what they do.

When we met next we will begin the Plan phase of the coaching cycle. I would review the questions and the teacher's answers sharing the tools I had brought to share. I would work with the teacher to create a plan for the students identifying:

• What tools would be used

• What skills the students needed to learn to use the tools

• What to do if technology wasn't working properly when needed

• What role the teacher wanted me to play in this project

• How to utilize the students as leaders with these tools.

This planning may include scheduling time for me to observe, model and then co-teach with them. 

After our meeting I would send the teacher a copy of our meeting notes along with any resources we discussed in our meeting. If the teacher asked for me to come in to class to give a demonstration or deliver instruction I would verify the date and time with the teacher, and the expected length of time needed. 

The Act phase of the cycle may include me modeling, co-teaching, or observing.  After the project had started I would follow up with the teacher to see how things were going, and if they needed any more support. 

Finally I would meet with the teacher to Reflect. At the end of this process I would ask the teacher to reflect on how the activity went, and provide feedback on the coaching cycle. Sometimes this leads into starting another coaching cycle, while other times we return to the Plan phase and continue this current cycle.