The New Position

Technology coach, what exactly does that mean? Over the last few days myself and my administrators have been trying to define this new position in my high school. I view myself as a teacher's teacher. Someone who can help teacher integrate all that tech has to offer to enhance instruction to their curriculum. Broad concept, huh. I thought so too.

So I've spent the past few days researching the list of tools that the teachers in my building came up with last year. I've been preparing folders of information to share. I've been meeting with folks to discuss how to present it to the faculty. I've been stopping in the hallways and having 30 second chats about needs and wants. I've been working with my independent study student test these tools before rolling them out en masse. So far this has kept me very busy.

But I'm not with my concerns for such an overwhelming task. Integrating technology into a curriculum is a cumbersome task. It doesn't just involve software, but people. People who are excited and those who are suspicious. People who welcome change and those who stand by tradition. People who work well in teams and those who don't. People who support and those who can disrupt. Like any organization, people are the most important piece of the puzzle, but the trickiest, too. How do I successfully build bridges among people? How do I build bridges between the goals of administration and the desires of teachers? How do I convey that I'm here to help?