Thread by @Alex_Milton6

So...I'm the only K-12 Technology Coach in my district and I've been asked by admin to plan some Distance Learning PD for the rest of the year / start of next year. I'm feeling overwhelmed at the moment, so I'd love ideas for do's & don'ts #educoach #etcoach #miched #googleET

I appreciate everyone's comments on this post! Here are my current ideas: use Google Sites as a landing page to host all PD resources (like screencasts, text-based tutorials, webinar recordings, etc). I'll focus on just a few essential tools that most Ts are already use ...1/2

...and have the webinars be optional, recorded, and interactive. Ts will have a chance to play with the tool during the webinar, share ideas about how they use the tool with other Ts, and ask Qs. I'm feeling better about things now that the initial panic has worn off haha 2/2

Wow! I am blown away by all of these comments! I appreciate the #educoach & #googleET communities! Here are some of my lessons learned. (Thread)

1) Start with a needs assessment from staff (Google Form). What is their current reality? What is working and what is not?

2) Focus on best practices first, not the tools. What problems are Ts facing? How can tech be used to solve these issues?

3) Keep it simple (for both Ts and Ss). What tools/strategies do Ts already know/use? Focus on these essential tools during PD

4) Be flexible. We give our Ss grace, and we need to give Ts grace, too. Plan for asynchronous learning. Any live sessions should be recorded for later viewing.

5) Ts should have voice and choice. They should be offered many options for PD, but should only do what they need.

6) Sessions should be tiered by ability and grade level. (Ex: have beginner groups new to a tool/strategy, and a session for those who already know the tool and want to learn more)

7) Utilize other Ts as a resource for PD. Have them share successes and/or facilitate learning

8) Don't create all PD resources from scratch. There are plenty of resources online as well as other Ts who can share experiences.

9) Curate resources through tools like Google Sites or Google Classroom for easy access and on-demand learning.

10) Make a consistent PD schedule (specific days/times for specific activities). Max of three PD sessions per week, with a max of one hour per session.

11) During live trainings let Ts tinker with tools. They need time to create and explore on the T-side and the S-side.

12) Make time and space for conversation and reflection (such as open office hours)

I'm sure there are more, but that is all for now! I appreciate all of the words of wisdom I received from everyone in this thread!