The iTeach Blog

Hey Coach, I am a technology coach and have just started working with a group of awesome educators; however, they are hesitant to use technology and are a little skeptical about working with a coach. What’s the best way to support these teachers? Sincerely, Curious Coach Dear Curious Coach, First of all, know that this is a common stage of the coaching cycle and that their resistance is not about you. Most coaches can relate to teachers feeling overwhelmed with the challenges of teaching. Also, the many tasks teachers must complete every day often leaves them feeling void of the capacity to learn a new technology. But there is hope! Here are four easy ways to engage with your teachers, build trust, and encourage buy-in. 1. Meet teachers where they are. Tips & Tricks for the Tech Coach This concept may seem pretty obvious, but it is frequently overlooked. Take time to get to know teachers so you can understand how they run their classroom and how they are curre...

Hey Coach, I often use tools like Flipgrid, Google Classroom, Seesaw, and blogging so my students can give peer feedback through comments on each other’s work. The problem is, their feedback is not very meaningful - the comments lack detail and specificity to support their peer’s learning, and instead are full of exclamation points, emojis, and vague compliments. How can I teach my students to provide meaningful peer feedback in a digital space? Sincerely, Frustrated with Peer Feedback Dear Frustrated with Peer Feedback, First, let’s take a moment to celebrate what’s going well. It sounds like you recognize the importance of peer feedback in the classroom, and you’re already utilizing tools that enable students to share and discuss their work. Researchers John Hattie and Helen Timperley (2007) explain that when utilized effectively, feedback is one of the most powerful influences on student learning, so you are on the right track! But what does effective feedback look like? Acc...

Hey Coach, I want my students to be aware of the world outside of our classroom by learning with individuals from different countries and cultures. How can I connect with educators around the world who would be willing to partner with my students? Sincerely, Craving Global Connections Dear Craving Global Connections, I applaud you for working to flatten the walls of your classroom! Global collaboration offers many benefits to students, including developing communication skills, building empathy and a sense of interconnectedness, teaching students to overcome barriers and form bridges to other cultures, and preparing students for increasingly globalized workplaces. In 2018, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Center for Global Education at Asia Society released a publication entitled Teaching for Global Competence in a Rapidly Changing World . It provides guidance to educators as they work to integrate global competence into the...

Hey Coach, A lot of teachers at my school are hesitant to utilize technology in their daily lessons because they get inundated with student tech problems like dead batteries, computers not connecting to the internet, or other commonly occurring issues. The lesson goes off the rails as the teacher addresses these problems. As a result, teachers feel like technology is an additional thing rather than a tool they can use to quickly and easily personalize learning. How can I help teachers at my school overcome these struggles? Sincerely, Tired of Tech Troubles Dear Tired of Tech Troubles, You are right! Using technology in the classroom can be challenging and oftentimes a daunting task for any teacher. Let's face it, in the personalized classroom, a great deal of teacher's time is spent co-planning, guiding, and facilitating learning experiences. It can feel overwhelming for teachers to also monitor and manage issues with technology as they arise! Well, one answer l...