408 – Prepping for the End of the Year: Reflecting and Organizing
As the school year winds down, Rachel and our hosts, Matthaeus Huelse and Katie Ritter, explore practical strategies for instructional coaches to help teachers reflect on the past year and prepare for the next. They discuss the importance of feedback, the use of AI to organize and analyze responses, and the value of having a coaching buddy to gain different perspectives.
Whether you're an instructional coach feeling isolated in your role or a school leader looking to inspire your team, this episode offers valuable insights into managing the stressful end-of-year period while setting the stage for future success.
Find Rachel on her Socials!
Twitter/X: @RachelP3333
Coaching Mentorships
Where Coaches Go to Grow! – We empower coaches with a holistic approach to implement practical skills and strategies that creates a wave of lasting change with the educators in their schools. We work to improve learning by being right there with you, on the ground, and in schools every day.
Coaches Camp
Professional development designed specifically for instructional coaches, like you!
Join us in Cincinnati – July 29th – 30th
or Virtually – July 22nd – 24th
407 – The Leadership Journey: Insights for Instructional Coaches
Ready to enhance your role in educational leadership? “The Leadership Journey: Insights for Instructional Coaches” offers a practical and insightful look into the world of instructional coaching. This episode is perfect for instructional coaches, curriculum specialists, and educators looking to deepen their impact and leadership skills within the educational landscape.
We are talking with Natasha Rachell, Director of Instructional Technology for Atlanta Public Schools about personal anecdotes, expert advice, and practical strategies to transform the often solitary journey of an instructional coach into a collaborative expedition towards excellence! With discussions centered around personal and professional growth, this episode serves as a guide for those eager to inspire and lead with confidence.
Tune in to discover actionable insights and advice on transforming your approach to leadership. “The Leadership Journey” is your invitation to become a more effective leader in education. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn, grow, and influence the future of teaching and learning.
Find Natasha on her Socials!
Twitter: @apsitnatasha
Instagram: @natashabrachell
Podcast Team
Hosts- Katie Ritter & Matthäus Huelse
Editing Team- Matthäus Huelse, Jeremy McConnell, Justin Thomas
Social Media/ Promo Team- Alyssa Faubion
Producer- Matthäus Huelse
Edge•U Badges
Edge•U is an anytime, anywhere professional learning platform made for teachers by teachers!
Coaching Mentorships
Where Coaches Go to Grow! – We empower coaches with a holistic approach to implement practical skills and strategies that creates a wave of lasting change with the educators in their schools. We work to improve learning by being right there with you, on the ground, and in schools every day.
Introducing our Edge•U Learning Luminary!
Ernie Conner is the Director of Instructional Technology for Granville County Public Schools in Oxford, North Carolina. With a fervent passion for innovation and a dedication to fostering a love for learning, Ernie stands at the forefront of leveraging technology for his educators.
(more…)406 – AI in the Classroom: A Powerful Tool for Transforming Teaching and Learning
In this episode of “AI Conversations,” we are bringing back the hot topic of AI in the classroom. Join us and forward-thinking educator Adam Mohler as he delves into how AI can revolutionize teaching and learning. Adam emphasizes that AI is not just a tool for students but also a personal assistant for teachers, easing their workload and supporting better teaching. Discover how AI can create engaging and personalized learning experiences, from generating first-grade-level stories to creating interactive slides with images. Adam also addresses the concerns and fears some teachers have about AI, assuring that it's here to stay and that it can be a powerful tool for educators who embrace it. Tune in to “AI Conversations” for insights and strategies on using AI to enhance student learning and transform education.
Find Adam here:
@moler3031 – Twitter/X
@moler.adam – Instagram
@moler3031 – TikTok
Check out Moler's Musings!
Podcast Team
Hosts- Katie Ritter & Matthäus Huelse
Editing Team- Matthäus Huelse, Jeremy McConnell, Justin Thomas
Social Media/ Promo Team- Alyssa Faubion
Producer- Matthäus Huelse
Coaches Camp
Professional development designed specifically for instructional coaches, like you!
Join us in Cincinnati – July 29th – 30th
or Virtually – July 22nd – 24th
Edge•U Badges
Edge•U is an anytime, anywhere professional learning platform made for teachers by teachers!
Forward Edge Receives Google for Education Partner Award for Professional Development Leadership
CINCINNATI, OHIO – February 29, 2024 – Forward Edge was honored with the Professional Development Leadership Award at the Google for Education North America Partner Forum 2024. This prestigious award recognizes Forward Edge’s outstanding commitment to providing transformative professional development that empowers educators to effectively integrate Google for Education tools in their classrooms.
(more…)405 – TikTok your PD
Ever thought of TikTok as more than just dance moves and viral challenges? In this week’s episode of Restart Recharge, we're shaking things up by diving into how TikTok can be a game-changer for teacher PD. We're joined by the one and only Dr. Tyler Tarver, who’s not just a big deal online with over 120 million views but also a guru when it comes to making learning fun and accessible. Tyler’s going to walk us through his adventure from YouTube to TikTok, showing us that a little creativity can turn those quick, catchy videos into powerful PD tools that fit right in your pocket. It doesn’t matter if you're already a TikTok aficionado or just curious about what it can do for you and your teaching; this episode is packed with down-to-earth advice, real-world wisdom, and plenty of laughs to boot. Join us to find out how you can make PD not just informative, but downright enjoyable.
Follow Tyler on his socials!
@tylertarver – X/Twitter
@tylertarver – Instagram
drtylertarver -TikTok
Check out his Website!
TarverAcademy.com
Podcast Team
Hosts- Katie Ritter & Matthäus Huelse
Editing Team- Matthäus Huelse, Jeremy McConnell, Justin Thomas
Social Media/ Promo Team- Alyssa Faubion
Producer- Matthäus Huelse
Coaches Camp
Professional development designed specifically for instructional coaches, like you!
Join us in Cincinnati – July 29th – 30th
or Virtually – July 22nd – 24th
Edge•U Badges
Edge•U is an anytime, anywhere professional learning platform made for teachers by teachers!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
404 – Giving Feedback to Teachers: The End of the Compliment Sandwich
Join us this week on Restart Recharge as we tackle the essential topic of feedback in education with Brooke Conklin, a return guest and one of our very own here at Forward Edge. Brooke, who has helped build and is now leading our certification programs and our Coaching Network. Today she brings her practical experience and insights into how effective feedback can enhance teaching and learning.
In this episode, Brooke shares stories from the field, including a pivotal experience with a fourth-grade team, to illustrate the impact of thoughtful feedback. We discuss how to move beyond simple praise or criticism to foster real growth and development in educators.
We'll delve into strategies that make feedback a powerful tool for improvement, focusing on authenticity, constructive criticism, and the importance of a supportive approach. Brooke offers advice for educators and coaches on how to engage in meaningful feedback conversations that lead to positive changes in the classroom.
Tune in for an insightful discussion filled with real-world advice and strategies that anyone in education can apply. Whether you're giving feedback or receiving it, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.
The Coaching Habit – Michael Bungay Stanier
The Artisan Teacher: A Field Guide to Skillful Teaching – Mike Rutherford
Follow Brooke on X/Twitter
@brookeconklin19
Podcast Team
Hosts- Katie Ritter & Matthäus Huelse
Editing Team- Matthäus Huelse, Jeremy McConnell, Justin Thomas
Social Media/ Promo Team- Alyssa Faubion
Producer- Matthäus Huelse
Coaches Camp
Professional development designed specifically for instructional coaches, like you!
Join us in Cincinnati – July 29th – 30th
or Virtually – July 22nd – 24th
Edge•U Badges
Edge•U is an anytime, anywhere professional learning platform made for teachers by teachers!
403 – Building and Sustaining Educator Communities
This week on Restart Recharge, we're getting into the nitty-gritty of “Building and Sustaining Communities and Teacher Groups.” Andrea Trudeau joins us to share her practical advice on creating supportive environments where teachers work together effectively.
We'll talk about how to make teacher groups work for everyone, celebrate small wins, and build connections that matter. Andrea will also cover dealing with challenges and keeping things moving in a positive direction, all with a focus on what works in real classrooms and schools.
Tune in for straightforward tips and stories from the field. This episode is for teachers, coaches, and anyone interested in making schools a better place for collaboration.
Follow Andrea on X/Twitter
@MrsCarvEDU
Podcast Team
Hosts- Katie Ritter & Matthäus Huelse
Editing Team- Michael Roush, Alyssa Faubion, Matthäus Huelse
Social Media/ Promo Team- Alyssa Faubion
Producer- Matthäus Huelse
Coaches Camp
Professional development designed specifically for instructional coaches, like you!
Join us in Cincinnati – July 29th – 30th
or Virtually – July 22nd – 24th
Edge•U Badges
Edge•U is an anytime, anywhere professional learning platform made for teachers by teachers!
Addressing Digital Divides in Education: The 2024 NETP Breakdown
The US Office of Educational Technology has released the latest version of the National Education Technology Plan (NETP), which highlights the latest research, classroom realities, national trends, and innovative solutions schools are using to tackle complex challenges. While we think it’s worth the full read, we’ve summarized key takeaways in this blog post for those who may be short on time.
Previous NETP reports extensively detail the digital access and use divides. The 2024 plan has identified a third digital divide – the digital design divide – that builds upon the existing divides, creating greater inequities in this country.
“In systems where the average teacher can access more than 2,000 digital tools in a given moment, training on a tool’s basic functionality is insufficient. Closing the design divide moves teachers beyond the formulaic use of digital tools and allows them to actively design learning experiences for all students within a complex ecosystem of resources.” -NETP pg. 34
Digital Access Divide is the inequitable access to the internet, devices, and digital materials. With years of programs and funding (i.e., e-rate) attempting to address this divide, the pandemic emphasized just how far we still had to come as a nation to close this access divide adequately. Many schools used ESSER and other COVID-relief monies to increase bandwidth inside the school walls, address access outside of the school day, and get devices into kids’ hands. While well-intentioned, these efforts likely widened the gap for the other two divides.
Digital Use Divide highlights the inequitable experience kids have from classroom to classroom – in the same school system with the same available resources – based on how the teacher uses (or does not use) technology for teaching and learning. Students who only have opportunities to use technology for passive learning, or content consumption and basic word processing skills, will be far behind their peers who are regularly given active use opportunities to create with technology. Teachers who are overwhelmed with access to new digital hardware and tools, yet do not receive job-embedded and ongoing training, further perpetuate this divide. This brings us to the third and newly named divide.
Digital Design Divide focuses on the inequitable access to high-quality professional learning and support provided to educators to help them design high-quality learning experiences for their students that utilize edtech appropriately. No matter how great the access to the internet, devices, and curriculum resources, the digital use divide doesn’t stand a chance of closing until school leaders address the digital design divide to ensure teachers are equipped to use the resources around them. If you think this doesn’t apply to your district, I encourage you to think again. While most schools can point to pockets of innovation, few school systems have a similar look and feel across the board when translating active edtech learning experiences into teaching and learning.
The 2024 NETP challenges education leaders to think differently about funding related to tackling these three divides. In short, funding for infrastructure, hardware, and software cannot stop at the hard costs alone; they must consider and include funding beyond break-fix expenses that are allocated to ongoing training and support with said purchases in an instructional setting.
Furthermore, education leaders can streamline teachers’ initiative fatigue by aligning edtech support with existing instructional goals. Focusing on instruction and student outcomes causes teachers to invest their time and attention differently than when they are being presented with seemingly disconnected tools and features. An instructional technology coach can help district and building leaders strategically align goals and training.
Join Forward Edge Chief Learning Officer Katie Ritter for a brief webinar digging deeper into understanding these digital divides and some of the creative solutions presented in the 2024 NETP, and beyond, to address these inequities. The webinar will be on March 6th, 2024 at 3 PM EST. Register below!
About the Author: Dr. Katie Ritter is the Chief Learning Officer at Forward Edge. Katie was named one of the Top 100 Influencers in Edtech in 2023, and a finalist in the Visionary category for The EdTech Leadership Awards in 2023. She completed her Doctor of Education from Vanderbilt University where her research focused on instructional coaching and K12 educator professional development. She has served on several leadership teams including President of ISTE’s Edtech Coaching PLN and as a Future Ready Schools Instructional Coaches Thought Leader. She is a former instructional coach and high school educator. Katie is driven to empower others to realize their full potential, so they can make a positive difference on those around them!
Forward Edge empowers schools to reach tomorrow’s learners by providing a variety of solutions and services that remove barriers to learning. Focusing 100% on Education, we understand that learning time is sacred, and we take a holistic approach to designing and implementing technologies for students, teachers, and staff. We work to improve learning by being right there with you, on the ground, and in schools every day.
Reference
2024 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP): A Call to Action for Closing the Digital Access, Design and Use Divides. Office of Educational Technology. (2024). https://tech.ed.gov/netp.
What is an Instructional Coach Mentor?
Before we get into what an Instructional Coach Mentor, let’s look at what an instructional coach is. This position is newer to education over the last 10 years, but seems to have exploded over the last four years! It is a role that is really unique and can vary greatly from school to school, requiring a lot of work to clarify that role to the teachers and educational leaders the coach works with. By our definition, a coach is an instructional leader who partners with educational stakeholders to achieve individual (educator) and common (department/school/district) goals. The question is: who helps the coach achieve their goals? Cue the Instructional Coach Mentor!
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