Technology integration needs empowered instructional coaches: accompanying in-service teachers in school digitalization

IF 1.5 Q2 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education Pub Date : 2023-03-31 DOI:10.1108/ijmce-04-2022-0029

Christiane Caneva, Emilie-Charlotte Monnier, Caroline Pulfrey, L. El-Hamamsy, Sunny Avry, Jessica Delher Zufferey

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引用次数: 5

Abstract

PurposeIn digital education curricular initiatives, some teachers are taking on key roles when appointed as instructional coaches (ICs) and become crucial in the sustainability of the initiative by coaching teachers. This study aimed to find out the difficulties ICs are facing when mentoring teachers in the development of the digital skills and to identify the coaching activities the coaches offer.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a mixed-methods research design focusing on a qualitative approach, the research team conducted 6 focus groups with 38 ICs from 12 primary schools in Switzerland. Quantitative descriptive data were collected through a survey submitted before and after the focus group.FindingsThe results indicate that (1) the professional development (PD) activities offered to teachers vary greatly depending on the instructional coach characteristics and the school to which the teachers belong, (2) the in-service training of ICs should include coaching and leadership skills and (3) distributed leadership to ICs could facilitate the adoption of technologies by teachers and support change in the school.Practical implicationsSome ICs offer activities with a low involvement of the teacher. ICs' training programs should provide strategies to better take advantage of PD activities. The authors suggest training ICs in PD activities, aligned with Gibbons and Cobb's (2017) such as analyzing classroom video or lesson study involving a group of teachers working together with an expert to improve a lesson. District and school leaders should provide ICs with explicit guidance and more resources to achieve systemic change. ICs should also be empowered by being involved in the development of the school's continuing education training plans.Originality/valueThis study presents a new perspective about understanding and applying in-service teacher PD in the context of a digital education curricular initiative.

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技术整合需要有能力的教学教练：在学校数字化中陪伴在职教师

目的在数字教育课程倡议中，一些教师在被任命为教学教练（IC）时发挥着关键作用，并通过指导教师对倡议的可持续性至关重要。本研究旨在找出IC在指导教师发展数字技能时面临的困难，并确定教练提供的指导活动。设计/方法/方法采用以定性方法为重点的混合方法研究设计，研究团队对来自瑞士12所小学的38名IC进行了6个焦点小组的研究。通过在焦点小组前后提交的调查收集定量描述性数据。研究结果表明：（1）教师的专业发展活动因教学教练的特点和所属学校而异，（2）集成电路的在职培训应包括指导和领导技能；（3）向集成电路分配领导能力可以促进教师采用技术，并支持学校的变革。实践意义一些IC提供的活动教师参与度较低。IC的培训计划应提供更好地利用PD活动的策略。作者建议与Gibbons和Cobb（2017）一致，对IC进行PD活动培训，例如分析课堂视频或课堂研究，让一群教师与专家一起改进课程。学区和学校领导应该为IC提供明确的指导和更多的资源，以实现系统性变革。ICs还应通过参与学校继续教育培训计划的制定来获得授权。原创性/价值本研究为在数字教育课程倡议的背景下理解和应用在职教师PD提供了一个新的视角。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH-

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

33.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education (IJMCE) publishes cutting edge research, theoretical accounts and emerging issues of mentoring and coaching in educational contexts, including schools, colleges and universities. IJMCE provides global insights and critical accounts of how mentoring and coaching are evolving on a global platform evidencing their situated nature and generic characteristics. This unique journal highlights what is recognised as effective and less effective practice in specific contexts, as well as demonstrating why this is so and discussing possible transferability to other contexts. Coverage includes, but is not limited to: Pre-service teacher education, New teacher induction and early professional learning, Teachers’ CPD provision, Educational technology provision, Educational leadership, Pre-school education and care, School/FE and HE education, Undergraduate student tuition, Postgraduate student tuition, Educational consultancy services, Children’s support services, Adult learning services.