Instructional Technology Coaching

CFF Instructional Technology Coach Professional Development
CFF Instructional Technology Coach Support
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Overview

Classrooms for the Future (CFF) is a high school reform program.  With the infusion of 21st Century technology and laptops for students in the classrooms, teachers are changing their teaching practices through extensive professional development.  An essential aspect of the CFF initiative is an on-site instructional technology coach in each participating school to assist teachers with just-in-time learning, in-class modeling and support to help them utilize the CFF equipment effectively and design rigorous, relevant and student-centered instructional activities.
Click here for the Instructional Technology Integration Coach job description.

Required Certification
School districts collaborate with the PA Department of Education to recruit, select and hire Classrooms for the Future instructional technology coaches, who currently hold an Instructional I or II certificate or an Instructional Technology Specialist certificate and have a minimum of three years of classroom experience. 

Role of the CFF Instructional Technology Coach
CFF instructional technology coaches serve as part of their school’s leadership team, providing just in time, embedded and ongoing professional development for teachers, staff, and administration. Coaches work with school staff to develop the on-site capacity of schools to sustain and deepen teachers’ ability to integrate instructional technology into classroom lessons in core academic areas, use data to make informed instructional choices, and promote instruction that is differentiated for students.

Instructional Coaching as Professional Development
Instructional coaching is one model of professional development that has shown potential to improve the knowledge, skill, and practice of teachers, thus, enhancing student achievement.  In a 2004 study by the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning, instructional coaching was found to significantly increase the implementation rate of newly learned practices. This study indicated that without support and follow-up, teacher implementation of new instructional methods is about 10%, but with coaching the percentage increases to 85% (Knight, 2004). Instructional coaching as a professional development activity involves a highly skilled professional (the instructional coach) working with other professionals (the teachers) in a collegial manner to raise instructional practice to the highest level possible. Instructional coaching promotes teacher growth and problem solving. It is on-going, classroom based, and personalized for each teacher.  Coaching should provide consistent support to teachers as they work to improve practice based on collaboration, inquiry, and consultative feedback from the coach.  It represents sound, job-embedded professional development has the potential to improve instructional practice, and ultimately student achievement.

The CFF instructional coaching model is based on the work of the PDE Collaborative Coaching Board whose mission it is to make sure that all coaching initiatives in Pennsylvania are congruent and are focused in improving instruction in the Commonwealth’s classrooms with the goal of increased student achievement.

Elements of the CFF coaching model include:
- The 10 roles of instructional coaches as outlined by Joellen Killion, National Staff Development Council;
- Levels of Intensity of coaching from Dr. Rita Bean, University of Pittsburgh

Click here to link to Elements of Coaching Chart

CFF Instructional Technology Coach Professional Development

CFF instructional technology coaches have volunteered to be a guide and support for other teachers in their buildings.  They come from a variety of different disciplines and grade levels, but above all, they are experienced classroom teachers who have had success using technology in their instruction.  The grant funding provides a half time position for each school and many CFF schools have augmented the position to full time.  Because of the diversity of backgrounds, CFF instructional technology coaches participate in robust professional development and are part of a dynamic and very active virtual professional learning community. All instructional technology coaches are required to complete a professional development program.  The ultimate outcome is for teachers to employ effective strategies and multiple technologies to reach all students and to enhance their learning.  CFF instructional technology coaches are equipped to assist teachers to meet this outcome. 

Coach Boot Camp
Each year, CFF instructional technology coaches participate in an intensive residential 3.5 day professional development opportunity known as the coach boot camp because of the length of the days and full agenda.  Cohort 1 coaches joined the project in 2006 and have been essential in sharing their knowledge and experience with the new Cohort 2 and 3 coaches in subsequent years.  During the boot camps, instructional technology coaches have opportunities to hear from speakers, practice instructional coaching strategies, learn more about 21st Century teaching and learning as well as have an opportunity to participate in regional meetings to lay the foundations for the strong virtual community that supports their work day to day.

Vendor Provided Professional Development
As part of the CFF vendor contract, CFF vendors provide an additional eight days of hands-on professional development for the instructional technology coaches to experience and deepen their understanding of 21st Century learning and use the equipment, software and other on-line tools that are part of the CFF classroom equipment package.  These sessions have been scheduled in two day chunks, four times during the year.

Virtual Community
Since CFF instructional coaches are often the only instructional technology coach in their building or district, it is essential for them to be connected to their peers and others throughout the state.  As an example a CFF coach may have  formerly been a science teacher and  are asked to assist English teacher in creating strategies and lesson ideas.  Having a lifeline to other CFF instructional coaches who have an English background is essential.

The CFF Instructional coaches’ listserv is a lifeline for many coaches.  In the words of one coach:  “The listserv is the heart of CFF. It is the pump that circulates the tech tools, the sharing of knowledge, the emerging technologies, the teaching and learning strategies, the communication, the collaboration, the place where we come to ask others for help or ideas.” 

In addition to the listserv, cffcoach.org is a Moodle site where CFF instructional technology coaches can post ideas, can participate in discussions, can share links, can put their profiles up and generally have a virtual water cooler where they can share what works and what doesn’t.  It is the community filing cabinet full of ideas, strategies as well as an overall great resource.

Instructional coaches have created other virtual sites that are linked from the Moodle site such as wikis for each subject area, a CFF del.i.cious site and a CFF diigo site to share website bookmarks, photo sharing sites as well as individual coach created wikis for their individual teachers.

Most instructional technology coaches use online conferencing tools such as Skype or CoverITlive where they can be in contact with other instructional technology coaches as needed and continually learning.

Another powerful aspect of the CFF instructional technology coach virtual community is the periodic webinars provided on a variety of topics of interest. CFF instructional coaches can participate in short, focused professional development segments and hear speakers from their desktops without leaving their schools.  Click here for the 2008-09 webinar schedule.

Throughout the year instructional technology coaches are invited to participate in preconference events specifically designed for coaches at the PETE&C conference, the Penn State 1:1 conference or the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association conference. 

Four virtual camps are available for CFF teachers and instructional technology coaches the summer of 2009.  Participants have the opportunity to learn a web 2.0 technology thoroughly and develop instructional units and lessons over four to six weeks during the summer.   Camps include Google, Taking IT Global, Wikispaces and ePals.  Virtual Camp Flyer 

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CFF Instructional Technology Coach Support

IU TIMs    Regional Intermediate Unit Technology Integration Mentors (IU TIM) act as supports and resources for the CFF instructional technology coach and provide sustainable support.

The IU TIM develops a professional learning community for all CFF instructional technology coaches within their respective IU. In this non-supervisory role, the IU TIM supports instructional technology coaches as they support teachers to deliver data-driven, technology-enhanced lessons in their schools. Focusing on the instructional technology coaches’ strengths, the IU TIM collaborates with the CFF instructional technology coaches in their efforts to help teachers transform classrooms into 21st Century, rigorous, authentic, differentiated, learner-centered environments. The IU TIM understands the connections between/among CFF and other PDE high school reform projects.  

The PA IU TIMs provides regional leadership activities for CFF schools by visiting schools, hosting local meetings and facilitating regional trainings. They are the first point of contact for CFF instructional technology coaches who may need assistance. They work with the PDE mentors to support the program in their region.

The following is a list and contacts for the IU TIMS:
IU   Name                     Email Address
1    Mara Linaberger       linabergerm@iu1.k12.pa.us
1    Stephanie Kline        klines@iu1.k12.pa.us
3    Kevin Conner           kevin.conner@aiu3.net
4    Scott Powner          scott_powner@miu4.k12.pa.us
5    James Gallagher       jgallagher@iroquois.iu5.org
6    Ken Pruitt               kpruitt@riu6.org
7    Cynthia Shaffer       cshaffer@wiu.k12.pa.us
8    Brenda Calhoun       bcalhoun@iu08.org
9    Tanya Dynda          tdynda@iu9.org
10   Edward Catherman  edcatherman@ciu10.org
11   Justine Kobeski       jkobeski@tiu11.org
12   Ann Johnston         amjohnston@iu12.org
13   Dave Solon            david_solon@iu13.org
14   Rob Lipton             roblip@berksiu.org
15   Cheryl Capozzoli     ccapozzoli@hannasd.org
16   Mike Matukaitis      academy@csiu.org
17   Alanna Van Fleet    avanfleet@IU17.org
18   Suzanne McCabe    smccabe@liu18.org
20   Colleen Kramm       ckramm@ciu.org
21   Cathy Enders        endersc@cliu.org
22   Pamela Newman    pnewman@bucksiu.org
23   Vacant  
24   Vernice Mulcahy   vernicem@cciu.org
25   Anne Mosakowski  amosakowski@dciu.org
27   Lori Ceremuga      lbc@bviu.org
28   Lori Rodgers         lori@iu28.org
29   Evelyn Wassel      dewassel@comcast.net

Collaboration Days:   Most IU TIMS have worked with regional coaches to create Collaboration Days for teachers to come together to share effective classroom strategies in depth in a particular subject area (English, math, social studies or science).

PDE Mentors
A Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Mentor supports the Classrooms for the Future initiative through building both capacity and sustainability for the CFF program. The PDE Mentor models the mentoring process for the IU TIM. The PDE Mentor fosters a professional learning environment for all members and partners of CFF. In this non-supervisory role, the PDE Mentor acts as a critical friend by providing assistance, structure, and guidance to IU TIMs in support of the Classrooms for the Future goals, when and where needed. PDE Mentors work with individual coaches in collaboration with an IU TIM or upon PDE's request.

The PDE Mentor collaborates with the IU TIM in their efforts to help teachers transform classrooms into 21st Century, learner-centered environments that are authentic and relevant to students. The PDE Mentor is an active listener who respects confidentiality and models effective relationship building.
 
A PDE Mentor collaborates with the IU TIM regularly to determine the best methodology to support the IU TIM’s efforts.  A PDE Mentor communicates regularly with the CFF Project Manager, vendors, and IU TIM through face-to-face meetings, conference calls, webinars, telephone calls, and e-mail to ensure that schools successfully plan, implement and monitor their CFF programs.

A PDE Mentor is the first point-of-contact for the IU TIM when there is a question or concern related to CFF.

PDE Mentors provide leadership for CFF coach professional development (PD) throughout Pennsylvania. They actively engage the coach community to determine PD needs. They design and implement CFF instructional technology coach PD opportunities provided by PDE, including, but not limited to, face-to-face workshops, webinars, and written materials.

PDE Mentors 2008-2009
Beth Cornell                                                  Virginia Glatzer
IUs 10, 14, 16, 17                                          IUs 20, 21, 22, 23
bcornell17111@yahoo.com                               vglatzer@infostweb.com
717-576-9070 cell                                          215-750-6018
 
Madeline Keri                                                 Joanna Mangiapane
IUs 1, 6, 8, 10                                               IUs 2, 3 (cohort 1 only), 4, 5, 27
madelinekeri@gmail.com                                   jam@tietool.com
814-442-4787 cell                                          412-398-5034 cell
 
Joanne Romano                                              Jim Gates (After November 15)
IUs 24, 25, 26                                                IUs 11, 12, 13, 15
jroma@erols.com                                             jgates513@gmail.com
610-331-6428 cell                                          717-773-6526 cell
 
Ralph Maltese                                                Diane Chessman
IUs 18, 19, 29                                                IUs 3 (cohorts 2 and 3), 7, 9, 28
ralph.maltese@gmail.com                                 dianechessman@gmail.com
215-688-7296 cell                                          412-580-9413 cell

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Articles

This article continues to describe Pennsylvania coaching activities.

PDE White Paper on Coaching 2007

Coaching PA: Coaching as a Vital Component of an Aligned, Standards-Based System
 
Instructional Coaching – Professional Development Strategies that Improve Instruction


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The Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching The Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching (PIIC), a partnership of the Annenberg Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, is a statewide institute that will bring the benefits of instructional coaching to teachers, students, and schools across the state.  The ultimate goal: improved teaching practice and improved student achievement.

Working through the state’s 29 Intermediate Units (IUs), PIIC will provide consistent high-quality professional development to mentors, instructional coaches, teachers, and school administrators.  PIIC draws on the lessons learned by the Pennsylvania High School Coaching Initiative (PAHSCI), which began implementing instructional coaching in 16 high-needs districts in 2005.

Working through the state’s 29 Intermediate Units (IUs), PIIC will provide consistent high-quality professional development to mentors, instructional coaches, teachers, and school administrators.  PIIC draws on the lessons learned by the Pennsylvania High School Coaching Initiative (PAHSCI), which began implementing instructional coaching in 16 high-needs districts in 2005.

Working through the state’s 29 Intermediate Units (IUs), PIIC will provide consistent high-quality professional development to mentors, instructional coaches, teachers, and school administrators.  PIIC draws on the lessons learned by the Pennsylvania High School Coaching Initiative (PAHSCI), which began implementing instructional coaching in 16 high-needs districts in 2005.

University of Kansas Center for Research on Teaching and Learning This site is a valuable resource for coaches and includes:

• Instructional coaching research
• What an instructional coach does
• Instructional coaching theory
• Tools and presentations
• WebLog  

National Staff Development Council The National Staff Development Council (NSDC) is the largest non-profit professional association committed to ensuring success for all students through staff development and school improvement.
The NSDC Council views high quality staff development programs as essential to creating schools in which all students and staff members are learners who continually improve their performance.

Teacher Leaders Network
This site provides numerous articles on coaching as well as resources on teacher leadership. A few of the article titles on coaching include:
• Ten roles of the School-Based Coach
• Helping Teachers Learn to Differentiate
• Cultivating the Passion for Change
• A Coach, Not a Supervisor
• Improve Your Presentations!
• The Importance of Mentors 

Literacy Coach Clearinghouse
The mission of the Literacy Coaching Clearinghouse (LCC) is to increase the knowledge base, research, and practice of literacy coaching.  The LCC assists districts, schools, and coaches to develop excellent coaching programs based upon findings from research and coaches’ collective experiences. NCTE and IRA hope to build a professional learning community of those who are deeply interested in literacy coaching.


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