Integrating technology into schools is becoming a requirement in order to keep up with the changing world. Technology allows educators to blow open the four walls of the classroom and reach beyond the scope of the traditional educational experience. Students are becoming curators of the content and taking ownership of their learning. When empowered students have the agency to take ownership of their learning and are involved in the experience, the learning becomes more meaningful.
It is crucial to work toward a common understanding of what coaching is so we are using the same language across the school community. Much work has been done by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Coaching team to support our schools on creating effective coaching programs. According to the DPI Coaching page, "Coaching is intentional, job-embedded professional learning designed to support teachers and staff in implementing practices with fidelity. Coaching takes place after training and happens while practitioners are doing their work." The Coaching Competency Practice Profile (CCPP) is a tool that expands on this definition of coaching, allowing coaching to be teachable, learnable, doable, and replicable. Watch this brief tutorial to learn how to use the tool in your work to support educators in multiple ways.
The Future Ready Instructional Coaches framework creates a foundation and provides guidance for those educators leading schools in digital learning. This framework aligns with the core areas of the Wisconsin Digital Learning Plan, built on elements of Future Ready Schools. These educational leaders come from a number of different roles in districts including Instructional Coaches, Digital Learning Coaches, Facilitators, Innovation Coaches, Personalize Learning Coaches, Library Media Specialists, Technology Directors, Lead Teachers, and truly any educator leading and modeling technology integration in schools. Digital learning leaders in schools are the change agents and are vital in helping others (admin, teachers, support staff) provide engaging learning experiences for ALL learners.
The Future Ready Instructional Coaches framework focuses on good pedagogy and works to create personalized, equitable, applied and engaged learning experiences for all students. The framework promotes create innovative, learner-driven experiences that meet teachers where they are and support them through their personalized learning pathway. Leveraging Wisconsin Standards for Information and Technology Literacy across the curriculum allows for empowering students to use technology to enhance their learning. In addition, instructional coaches advocate for the infrastructure that ensures equitable access to connectivity, digital devices designated for school use, digital literacy skills training, digital resources, and inclusive services for all students to support of the district’s instructional vision. Future Ready Instructional Coaches also understand the Wisconsin Digital Learning Plan and the framework it creates to support the district’s student learning plan.
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
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Facilitate teaching and learning enhanced by digital resources when appropriate
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Model the use of differentiated instructional strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners
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Coach teachers in the development of lessons and modeling them when needed
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Design resources that support and encourage teachers to utilize sound pedagogical practices
Utilize Wisconsin Digital Learning Plan Gear 1 guiding questions to help direct instructional coaching efforts
Personalized Professional Learning
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Conduct needs assessments to design personalized professional learning pathways
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Utilize a variety of pedagogical strategies and digital tools during the design and delivery of professional learning
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Rethink pedagogical strategies and evaluate digital tools to meet the needs of today’s learners
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Provide opportunities for teachers to connect and collaborate beyond the school day
Technology and Infrastructure
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Ensure ALL students have access to the same learning experiences
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Identify and communicate infrastructure needs with the leadership team including principal and/ or district technology department
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Assist in the development of strategies that support equitable access for all learners in and out of the classroom
Collaborative Leadership
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Support school leadership to establish a culture of trust
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Develop new teacher leaders
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Provide time and learning structures for coaches and teachers to work together individually or in teams
- Advocate for underrepresented groups and culturally responsive pedagogy/teaching
Data and Privacy
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Advocate and promote digital citizenship with both teachers and students
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Encourage social and emotional learning practices to encourage student online safety
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Model and communicate data privacy policies and expectations to all learners (staff, students and parents)
Use of Space and Time
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Supports administration and staff to unbundle learning from traditional confines, and redefine it to fit individual learner needs in terms of pace, path and time
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Ensure instructional planning includes student voice and choice
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Help educators to match learning spaces with student learning outcomes desired
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Assess, rethink and redesign traditional learning spaces that support personalized learning (with admin, teachers, and students)
Community Partnerships
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Identify strategic goals and potential partners to support the school vision
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Understand and identify ways to support community needs
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Educate the community on instructional practices being used within the school day
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Identify unique ways that community partners can support learning outside of school
Budget and Resources
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Participate in the budgeting and planning process with the administration
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Advocate for resources that meet the needs of diverse learners and strengthen instructional practices by aligning to the vision