WI Future Ready Instructional Coaching for the Digital Age Student

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.