2.+Coach's+Comments

** The Technology Coach ** In addition to the grant money used to purchase the technology equipment, Burrell also received money for a Technology Coach. This person is devoted to guiding the teachers through their transformation to 21st Century teachers. In addition to facilitating the eMEDDED LEARNING course, the coach is also responsible for co-teaching and co-planning lessons focused on 21st Century skills. The coach's job officially began in October with Boot Camp held in Harrisburg, PA. This week long training session was rigorous and took each person through some of the skills needed to do this job. It is exactly what it sounds like with sessions beginning at 7:30 AM and running to 10:30 at night. It was only the tip of the iceberg of the skills, knowledge, and contacts that would be made throughout the school year.

In addition to supporting the high school teachers, the Technology Coach must attend monthly meetings, attend training sessions around the state, attend webinars, complete required paperwork, provide professional development, as well as JIT technical and implementation support. We were fortunate to have a full-time coach, who did not have to split her time between teaching and coaching. Due to the amount of time spent out of the district, the amount of time spent co-teaching and co-planning with other teachers, it is a very difficult job to do on a part time basis. Although the main focus of our Technology Coach was to support the CFF high school teachers, her job did expanded to provide support to all teachers in the high school, management of mobile technology, and many other duties!! She also had an opportunity to help teachers in a other buildings from time to time.

She maintained a 21st Century Moodle Site which served as a clearinghouse for some web 2.0 tools, teaching strategies, and other tech tips she acquired along the way. She also published a monthly newsletter to the district highlighting some of the more significant tools and tips that may be of interest to everyone.

** Newsletters **

**Moodle Site:** [] Access the Professional Development Link, then pick "Burrell 21st Century Classroom" Log-in as Guest - the enrollment key is cff0809


 * My thoughts on the year as Technology Coach: **

The coach is a guide on the side, a shoulder to cry on, a cheerleader, a listener, a motivator of change, a celebrator of success, and an educator at heart! As someone once told me when I first was asked to do this job, "it is the toughest job you'll ever love." I thought he was being malodramatic, but after doing this job for the school year... I think I would give the exact same advice. I have made lasting relationships with my fellow coaches around Westmoreland and Indiana counties. We have supported each other face to face and online this entire year. We have come to acknowledge and appreciate the differences and similarities in our districts and personailities. Without this support group, I don't think I would have made it through! It has been a journey sometimes with easy paths and sometimes with rocky ones. I feel that I have done some good here at the disctrict, and I can't wait to see how our journey continues and where the shift will finally take us!
 * //Thanks! Dawn Lovic, Technology Coach and Teacher //**


 * Site Links: ||  ||   ||
 * Overview of CFF ||  ||   ||
 * Coach's Comments ||  ||   ||
 * Demonstrations: || Podcasting and Audacity with Mr. Pounds || [[image:audacity.jpg width="44" height="51" link="http://audacity.sourceforge.net/"]] ||
 * || Inspiration with Mrs. Anthony || [[image:inspiration.jpg width="44" height="50" link="http://www.inspiration.com/"]] ||
 * || Google Earth with Mrs. Kariotis || [[image:google_earth_logo.png width="40" height="36" link="http://earth.google.com/"]] ||
 * || ActivBoard and ActivExpressions with Mrs. Lovic || [[image:promethan.JPG width="71" height="41" link="http://www.prometheanplanet.com/"]] ||
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