Set Up Mentorship and Support Processes to Guide Other Teachers

Trainer of trainers model, where selected teachers receive specialized training with the expectation they will train their fellow colleagues.

Early adopters model, where early adopters of technology share best practices at any opportunity.

Whichever method a site chooses, it’s important that all decision makers are on the same page. Does the school site have a technology plan? Is there financial support for equipment and training? Is there a vision for technology use in the school and the resources needed to accomplish the plan?

Discussing these ideas with administration, faculty, and parents is an essential step to both bringing about lasting change and staying focused on the reason why tech is used in the classroom: student learning.

Building Support

It may seem overwhelming to bring tech leadership to your school site, but it is possible with a flexible plan, collaborative partnerships, and ideas for creating innovative learning opportunities for your students. To make effective technology integration happen, consider the following ideas:


School-wide support models

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  Instructional coaches – At some schools, a classroom teacher is released from normal teaching duties to become a flexible resource for other staff members. They can personalize instruction by working one to one with teachers during scheduled appointments. Coaches can also demonstrate lessons during class time and model effective ways to instruct with technology. They can join collaboration meetings to help generate lesson planning ideas and connect teachers with each other to show what works in the classroom.
  
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  School site mentors – If a coaching position is not a possibility, a similar role can be assigned to a classroom teacher with advanced tech skills. For example, a school can identify a tech mentor for each grade level to bring ideas to grade-level teams. During lesson planning collaboration, school site mentors can help colleagues integrate technology into the curriculum. This type of support is embedded into established groups and provides just-in-time help for their peers.
  
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  Staff-development workshops – Teacher-led workshops during professional development time are an effective method for sharing best practices and building professional learning communities. With time to learn, connect, and share ideas for a specific tech activity or skill shared at a workshop, a group of teachers can gain valuable support to bring innovative instruction to their classrooms.
  
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  Student-led support – Students are a great resource and can take a leadership role in helping support teachers. Form a group of techie students who are also able to teach teachers how to use common tools.
  
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  Self-guided professional development – Coaches or tech leaders can help curate and generate digital development resources. Whether it be shared through developed websites or a simple email, teachers can benefit from a wide variety of support that they can access whenever they choose.