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Educational Technology Coach
Alliance Academy for Innovation
Dr. Nick Crowder
ncrowder@forsyth.k12.ga.us
470-695-7823 ext 571621If you are having any issues with instructional technology--login information doesn't work, not sure how Canvas works, information is not being updated in a timely fashion---or anything else, please contact Dr. Crowder. He is here to help you!!
Our vision is to use classroom technology to engage students in asking questions and choosing tools to facilitate real world problem solving.There are nine key skills that the Educational Technology Coach (ETC) must possess in order to achieve this vision. These are:
- Interpersonal Skills – Exhibits high-level interpersonal communication skills necessary to work cooperatively and collaboratively with employees at all organizational levels who have exceptional diverse interests and competence in the use of technology
- Intellectual Acumen – Is intelligent and demonstrates initiative and aptitude for learning complex concepts.
- Managing Vision and Purpose – Communicates a vision for instructional technology and inspires and motivates the entire faculty to achieve the vision.
- Learning on the Fly – Learns quickly and independently the many technologies in use in the school and seeks out solutions to problems.
- Planning – Juggles the many aspects of the ETC position including troubleshooting, meeting with teachers one on one or in small groups, providing professional development opportunities, developing resources for teachers, and answering countless questions from administrators, teachers, students and community members.
- Developing Others – Builds the instructional technology skills of faculty and students by creating opportunities for growth.
- Drive for Results – Pursues his or her work with a need to finish and does not give up before finishing, even in the face of resistance or setbacks.
- Managerial Courage – Deals head-on in difficult situations and is open and direct without being intimidating.
- Presentation Skills – Presents effectively and is skillful at reading the audience and adapting to meet participants’ needs.
Forsyth County Schools is entering a new era in the use of classroom technologies. For many years, we weeded out all the extras and focused our efforts on growing a standard set of hardware and software. Through this effort, our students and teachers were able to expand learning in powerful and important ways. More recently, Forsyth has implemented a Bring Your Own Technology Program (BYOT). New thinking is springing up, not just about the tools students use, but about the way Technology Services provides support in all areas. We have seen the benefits of allowing students to choose tools to direct their own learning.
There are two guiding principles for classroom technologies that drive the work of Technology Services. District efforts are focused on employing Grappling's Spectrum of Technology Uses. Of the three levels of the spectrum, Forsyth County Schools is increasing the transformational use of classroom technology, which is where students are information producers, not consumers, and where students go beyond existing information. The second is a focus on the 4 C's of Transformational Learning, including Creativity, Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking.