As I began this course I was excited to see what it would hold because I love helping my colleagues, especially with technology. As a Special Education Teacher I am often in many other teachers classrooms. Most of them are truly appreciative that I am there to just have another set of hands, if nothing else. They end up getting a whole lot more than that because I love to help them find way to integrate digital tools and resources into their day to day routines. I love hearing my co-workers compliment me for helping with technology because I consider it to be "my element" This class helped me hone in on many skills and gain experience coaching. I also gained experience in aligning professional development with professional learning standards.
In coaching my co-worker and friend I was able to flex my instructional technology muscles so to speak. It was truly inspiring to see the change in her teaching. In the beginning of the coaching experience my co-worker told me she thought she was doing a good job integrating technology and she didn't think I would be able to do anything for her. The biggest reward I received during this class was when she told me at the end how much I had helped her and given her the tools to be a more effective teacher. That is what it is all about. She thought because she used technology daily she was doing everything she could. I taught her about student-centered learning and then modeled it for her. I was able to see her carry out the strategies I had modeled when we co-taught a student-centered lesson together.
In my reflection in my coaching journal I said, "I think as teachers we tend to believe that if we are not standing up delivering content or standing right over students, they will be off task. We think that it is our job to force them to learn. I think this experience just goes to prove that if we allow students freedom to learn in their own way, many times they will surprise us and work harder than we ever imagined if they are engaged." I believe this to be so true. If we could all get this and come to the realization that engaged students will be on-task and involved in using higher order thinking skills, education would be transformed. This class helped me come to realizations that are so relevant to my daily teaching position. When I get to the place that I become a technology coach, the lessons learned will stay with me and guide how I coach others.
In coaching my co-worker and friend I was able to flex my instructional technology muscles so to speak. It was truly inspiring to see the change in her teaching. In the beginning of the coaching experience my co-worker told me she thought she was doing a good job integrating technology and she didn't think I would be able to do anything for her. The biggest reward I received during this class was when she told me at the end how much I had helped her and given her the tools to be a more effective teacher. That is what it is all about. She thought because she used technology daily she was doing everything she could. I taught her about student-centered learning and then modeled it for her. I was able to see her carry out the strategies I had modeled when we co-taught a student-centered lesson together.
In my reflection in my coaching journal I said, "I think as teachers we tend to believe that if we are not standing up delivering content or standing right over students, they will be off task. We think that it is our job to force them to learn. I think this experience just goes to prove that if we allow students freedom to learn in their own way, many times they will surprise us and work harder than we ever imagined if they are engaged." I believe this to be so true. If we could all get this and come to the realization that engaged students will be on-task and involved in using higher order thinking skills, education would be transformed. This class helped me come to realizations that are so relevant to my daily teaching position. When I get to the place that I become a technology coach, the lessons learned will stay with me and guide how I coach others.