Coaching Model

The Technology Peer Coaching Program, developed by the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology and sponsored by Microsoft, will train teacher leaders to serve as technology peer coaches for colleagues. As coaches, these teachers will assist their peers in identifying ways that technology can strengthen classroom curriculum and enhance their students’ academic achievement. They will also help their colleagues develop the necessary technology skills and instructional strategies needed to integrate technology into teaching and learning.

Selected coaches will work with 1 or 2 collaborating teachers within their school. Coaches will be expected to find common time to collaborate with the teachers with whom they will be working. This may be accomplished before and/or after school, during common lunch hours, or common prep times. An incentive package to compensate coaches for their efforts and devotion to making a difference for students through the integration of technology includes such things as stipends, Career Ladder ICP credit, free professional development classes, technology equipment, and class release time (including substitutes) for collaboration and training.

Training for selected coaches will be provided at eight day-long sessions and through active involvement in the online professional learning community of coaches. Sessions 1-5 were held in the summers of 2007 and 2008; sessions 6, 7, and 8 will take place during the school year. Coaches will be supported by the program facilitators through professional development, the online learning community, and site visitations. The training that coaches receive will be focused on coaching skills, lesson design, technology integration, and use of the technology equipment. Coaches will be required to maintain a collaboration log or record of time spent, technology integration strategies used, and reflection on the effectiveness of the work accomplished between the coach and collaborating teacher. With the receipt of the technology equipment, coaches will become Technology Enhanced Model Classroom teachers, allowing building staff to see the value of integrating technology for improved student achievement and teacher productivity.