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4.1 Coaches inspire educators and leaders to use technology to create equitable and ongoing access to high-quality learning.
a) Create a shared vision and culture for using technology to learn and accelerate transformation through the coaching process.
b) Facilitate equitable use of digital learning tools and content that meet the needs of each learner.
c) Cultivate a supportive coaching culture that encourages educators and leaders to achieve a shared vision and individual goals.
d) Recognize educators across the organization who use technology effectively to enable high impact teaching and learning.
e) Connect leaders, educators, instructional support, technical support, domain experts and solution providers to maximize the potential of technology for learning.
ARTIFACTS
PD OFFERINGS for the 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR
ISTE 4.1.a
This schedule shows Teachers the Professional Development dates, topics, and description for the first half of the 2023-24 school year. Our daily class schedule rotates between Odd (Block 1, 3, 5, 7) and Even (2, 4, 6) days. During the open block on Even days, we have a rotating split block called Flex. One or more of those Flex periods provides the teacher with an additional 45 minute 'planning' period. I am using the Flex time to present quick Professional Development during the workday aimed at increasing productivity in the classroom and generating a Standard Operating Procedure throughout the building. Topics change after two cycles of Flex periods and the timing of the School Calendar is taken into account when offering sessions.
Office 365
ISTE 4.1.b
Microsoft Bookings to setup appointments at the Teacher's convenience.
Email signature including subdomain shortcuts to chat on Microsoft Teams or schedule an appointment through Microsoft Bookings
Advisory
ISTE 4.1.a, b, c, e
One of my larger projects as a Change Agent at Patriot High School has been the revision of Advisory classes. This all started with a conversation with a Science teacher who was struggling to import a test into Canvas. We got to talking about how students (particularly 9th grade students) did not know how to study for tests. We discussed the merit of certain strategies and skills for awhile before I completed my task and moved on to the next thing on my to-do list.
In the next week or two of reflection, I started to see the 'holes in the bucket' and came up with a creative solution that I knew would be a positive change for students, and ultimately the teachers. Before I could implement my solution, my broadly-scoped Band Director mind got to thinking of the bigger picture and I approached the teacher in charge of Summer Bridge. Summer Bridge is a week long summer camp where rising 9th graders come to Patriot for various sessions and classes that will ease any anxiety the students might have about coming in to the High School. I asked her what the sessions typically looked like, who was involved, and if they end up becoming something more once the school year started.
We both quickly learned that Summer Bridge is a bit of a black sheep and that it is not always given the importance it deserves from the staff at Patriot. This is primarily due to the timing of the event, but also I think because teachers don't see it as a program that continues into the year and directly impacts their classroom. Eventually, all 9th graders figure out where the locker rooms are, how to buy food, how the class numbers are oriented, etc. My lightbulb went off and I knew that this was the beginning of plugging the hole in the bucket.
I recommended to the teacher that we incorporate study strategies, test taking skills, soft-skills, interpersonal skills, PWCS specific skills like using Office365, and continuing those 'How-To-Be-A-Student' type sessions into the school year. Advisory is the perfect place for this type of lesson. I even imagined and brainstormed ideas specific to each grade level. The whole building does not need to do the same Advisory 'lesson'. At various times in the year, different aged students are focusing on very different things. Some kids might be looking at getting their first job, filling out the FAFSA form, concluding that they will need to learn how to cook quick meals for themselves while at college, trying out for a sport or club, or even just approaching Final Exams.
Very quickly, the teacher and I got to brainstorming sessions for the remainder of the year. We approached administration and, after a few weeks of being pushed away, we were able to implement our new Advisory lessons into the 9th grade. This was the beginning of a new initiative that will be started in the 2024-25 school year. Advisory is getting a complete overhaul. Each grade level will have their own Advisory Committee with grade-level specific lessons. There will be a web presence on our main website, a calendar, and specific building-wide lessons when necessary.
Advisory Modules
I believe that being a change agent at Patriot High School is one of the easier components of my job. Teachers struggle with not only the basic fundamentals of using available technology, but also finding newer technologies to use in their classroom for educational purposes. I’ve been able to be a resource for Administration, Educators, Support Staff, Parents, Students, and other members of the community on finding, accessing, using, and improving fundamental pieces of technology.
Prince William County has done a great job rolling out software availability and support for Teacher and Student use in the classroom for educational purposes, but they also have found a way to use technology to support Parents, as they work through the process of seeing technology in use in the classroom. Although there are plenty of resources available on the PWCS website, I find that working collectively with stakeholders directly is the most successful way for me to be a Change Agent at Patriot High School.
One thing I would like to improve on as a change agent is the fluency in which I am able to articulate the use of current systems, protocol, databases, and information support that stakeholders use. I find that oftentimes I am learning these systems before delivering training and support to stakeholders and I end up doing more research before being able to answer questions deeply and meaningfully.
Google Sites
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