Looking Back to Move Forward: A Coach’s Lens on Educational Technology

The episode titled "Looking Back to Move Forward, A Coach's Lens on Educational Technology" discusses the importance of understanding the history and theory behind educational technology for intentional use of digital tools. It highlights societal changes, the influence of learning theories on technology integration, and the role of technology standards in curriculum design. The focus is on helping teachers interpret change, integrate technology aligned with instructional goals, and facilitate student-centered learning experiences. Coaching prompts for teachers and coaches are provided to support reflective practice and professional growth. Hello, I'm Shannon Dow, your host for EDU Bits. Today's episode is titled, Looking Back to Move Forward, A Coach's Lens on Educational Technology. Welcome, colleagues. As instructional coaches and teacher mentors, we know that staying current with technology can feel overwhelming. Tools change, platforms update, and expectations continue to grow. But as Hughes, 2023, reminds us, understanding the history and theory behind educational technology gives us a clear foundation for using digital tools intentionally, not reactively. Let's consider the societal changes shaping educational technology. Over the last 30 years, society has transformed faster than any period in educational history. The rise of the Internet and mobile devices shifted learning from isolated textbooks to connected networks. Basically, we've moved from print-based learning to interactive digital ecosystems. The rise of the Internet, mobile devices, and cloud computing created new expectations for immediacy, collaboration, and access. More recently, remote and hybrid learning environments increased attention to digital citizenship. And tools powered by AI have transformed how students learn and how teachers design instruction. Cloud-based tools have made collaboration instant and accessible. The pandemic accelerated remote learning, shifting technology from optional to essential. As coaches, our job isn't just to help teachers keep up. It's to help them interpret the change. We build their capacity to evaluate tools, make informed decisions, and integrate technology that aligns with instructional goals. Hughes, 2023. Next, let's connect learning theory influencing technology integration. Technology integration is strongest when connected to learning theory. In behavioralism, tools reinforce mastery in immediate feedback systems, like adaptive quizzes. Cognitism theory supports multimedia design principles, linking information and scaffolded digital content, organizes information for deep processing. In constructionism, it emphasizes hands-on inquiry-based learning through digital simulations, project-based platforms, and collaborative tools. Connectionism, a modern theory that highlights how learners build knowledge through networks, digital communities, and online resources, basically global information sources. Hughes, 2023. When coaching teachers, we help them see why a tool works, not just how to use it. I will share the learning theory guiding my practice. The approach that I lean on most is constructionism. Students thrive when they actively construct knowledge through exploration and creation. Technology supports this through digital storytelling, collaborative documents, inquiry-based research, multimodal expression. Technology becomes a bridge that helps students construct meaning, connect ideas, and share their learning with authentic audiences. When teachers design these experiences, they shift from delivering information to facilitating learning. As coaches, we guide teachers through the pedagogical shift. Hughes, 2023. Lastly, technology standards that shape curriculum and planning. The ISTE standards play a major role in how today's curriculum is designed. They encourage teachers to create opportunities for students to be empowered learners, integrate tools that build digital citizenship, use technology for collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and model effective technology use as a designer and facilitator. I use these standards as a coaching roadmap. They help me to anchor conversations around purpose, not just tool selection. When standards guide the work, technology integration becomes coherent, intentional, and student-centered. Hughes, 2023. Thanks for joining me. Remember, technology will keep evolving, but strong pedagogy, reflective coaching, and a willingness to learn are what truly transform classrooms. See you next time. I'd like to offer some reflectional prompts for teachers and coaches as a bonus. You can use these for PLCs, coaching cycles, or personal reflection. For teachers, you can ask, how do societal shifts like mobile technology or AI impact the way my students learn? Which learning theory best reflects my instructional style and why? How can I use technology to give students more agency? Lastly, which ISTE standard do I feel most confident about and which one do I want to grow into? For coaches, you can ask, how can I connect technology tools to learning theory more explicitly during coaching conversations? And what strategies can I use to reduce coaches and tech-related stress or overwhelm? How can I support teachers in designing technology experiences that center authentic student learning? In what ways can I use standards to influence lesson design in a positive, teacher-empowering way? See you next time. Thanks for listening.