Stories from the Field

From “Way over my Head” to Instructional Leader
Peer Coaching Program Breeds Top-Notch Trainers
Tech Skills Training to Powerful Teaching with Technology
Small & Rural = Technology Rich Learning Environment
Online and Doing Fine
Big Benefits from the Federal E-rate Discount Program

From “Way over my Head” to Instructional Leader
I had a teacher in our 2008 cadre who came up to me in tears after the first session. “I’m just way over my head. I must be the dumbest person here! Should I give up this grant?" With a smile and a hug, I told her to hang in there. It would get better. Two years later, this same teacher presented at NCCE (March 2011) and talked to an audience of 100 people from all over the region about the power of technology in the middle school classroom. With confidence and passion, she explained how technology had transformed her instructional practice and the learning environment in her classroom.
—Kathy Dorr, former trainer for the Enhanced Peer Coaching Program, Northwest ESD

Peer Coaching Program Breeds Top-Notch Trainers
Katie Dorr and Beth Clothier attended the 2008-10 Enhanced Peer Coaching Program. Today they are contracted trainers who engage more and more teachers with the proven benefits of peer coaching as just-in-time, job-embedded professional development. Katie and Beth also worked with me to develop course content for the Summer Institute Program, which helps teachers improve their tech integration skills. Katie and Beth are fine, energized trainers who know how to build confidence in teachers new to technology. Beth is also our primary trainer for two key PD programs — Teaching & Learning in the 21st Century (TL21) and Peer Coaching for Teacher-Librarians. Katie will jump in as our facilitator/trainer for the T3 program (PDF) this year (2011). Their dedication is awe-inspiring — Beth and Katie juggle these multiple training duties alongside district-level responsibilities as the go-to gurus of tech integration.
—John Hardy, 360-299-4034, Educational Technology Support Center (ETSC) Director, NWESD

Tech Skills Training to Powerful Teaching with Technology
John Smith has been teaching technology proficiencies for many years. He felt mired in skills instruction disconnected from the teaching and learning experience. Peer coach training was transformative for John who was inspired by the rich discussions around instructional practice and tech integration. John has taken off in an entirely new direction and is a strong voice for project-based learning and professional learning communities. He has reconstituted his curriculum, developed innovate learning projects and is becoming a major proponent of effective teaching practices that integrate digital technologies.
—John Hardy, 360-299-4034, Educational Technology Support Center (ETSC) Director, NWESD

Small & Rural = Technology Rich Learning Environment
We were keen to focus on a small, rural and remote district in our region. We chose Centerville because their strategic plan for educational technology showed clear vision and a high-level of readiness to take tech integration to the next level. During the 2010-11 school year, we helped Centerville staff acquire document cameras, wireless interactive tablets and interactive whiteboard. The big idea here was equity of access to highly visual and interactive technologies as a way to bring Centerville students and teachers on par with peers in schools across the state and the country.

Early on, our technology and learning coordinator, Tanna Colwell, travelled to this small school many times to work with teachers on sample lesson plans and tech integration strategies. She coached and guided and provided tech support. Now, Tanna maintains a level of ongoing professional development to make sure teachers continue to optimize use of the equipment in their classrooms. The teachers are thrilled and the students have happily embraced their new tools for learning.
—Debbie Tschirgi, 360-750-7505, Educational Technology Support Center (ETSC) Director, ESD 112

Online and Doing Fine
This is the name of a series of free online professional development sessions that introduce educators to professional development online. The syllabus has two formats — live webinars that increase an educator’s comfort with learning at screen level and course content that delivers via our Moodle. The response from administrators, teachers and ESD staff has been terrific. Online and Doing Fine is just one way we’ve found to deliver vital PD content at a time when budgets are limited. Webinars coupled to online courses that live in the Moodle environment deliver high impact training cost effectively and that’s the goal.
—Debbie Tschirgi, 360-750-7505, Educational Technology Support Center (ETSC) Director, ESD 112