The future-ready initiative strives to increase access to digital learning for American learners. Its principles are a great boon for tech coaches, who are already aligned with the mission and approach of future-ready instruction.
In fact, the initiative has a variety of resources specifically designed to help tech coaches improve learning outcomes. One key principle is the concept of personalized learning. Although many tech coaches are very familiar with this concept, there is still room to personalize many instructional materials on school campuses. The tech coach is conceptually positioned to help classroom educators learn about and implement education technology tools that make it feasible for them to meet the learning needs of each learner.
The wise tech coach can help educators understand that personalization might require some substantive set-up time but will reduce the educator’s workload—not to mention improved student learning. Tech coaches can help educators navigate what can seem like an overwhelming task of providing instruction designed for the unique needs of each learner.
A future-ready tech coach understands the crucial importance of equity, not just in education in general, but also in the adoption of education technology. Tech coaches will want to ensure that educators have access to mobile hot spots to ensure that learners without access to broadband at home can complete assignments. Most learners may be embarrassed to announce their lack of access, so the tech coach will need to work with educators to ensure that every learner’s needs are met.
A future-ready tech coach is also aware of the limits of education technology. The knowledge of the dangers of excess screen time means that tech coaches may sometimes need to coach educators away from education technology, no matter how counterintuitive that seems. But the tech coach is conceptually positioned to know what a learner is experiencing in all of her classes and make suggestions that permit a balanced—instead of overwhelming—use of education technology.
Creating future-ready learners requires not just layering new education technology on top of what a school is already doing but also a fundamental reinvention of instructional practices. The future-ready tech leader can guide educators through this transition and provide the coaching needed to ensure that all learners benefit from education technology tools.
