Why Tech Coaches Matter in the Classroom

                  Why Tech Coaches Matter in the Classroom

I was reading Transform Learning Through Technology (ISTE, 2020, p. 25) and the part about the coach being a Change Agent really stood out to me. At first, I thought it sounded a little dramatic, but then I realized what it meant. Coaches are not just people who show teachers how to use programs like PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc. 

The book says, “The coach works in collaboration with both educators and educational leaders, listening to their needs and developing relevant professional development opportunities” (p. 2). That shows that their job is to create a bigger plan for how technology should be used in classrooms, not just give step-by-step directions. 

Another section that made sense to me was about making technology available for everyone. The book says, “Coaches highlight success stories and make sure digital tools are accessible to all learners” (p. 25). I’ve seen how big of a problem this can be. Articles like Digital Equity in Education explain how access to technology can impact student success, which connects directly to what I’ve seen in class.

In one of my college group projects, one teammate had such an old laptop that they couldn’t even run the program the rest of us were using. It slowed down the whole group and was really frustrating for them. If someone could step in and make sure tools actually worked for everyone, it would make the class way easier and more fair.