Beth from MD facilitating tonight after a day of school Valentine's parties! The highlight was the yummy pupusa's that one student brought to share! #atchat
I'm Chris from Virginia! I've got a new book coming out later this Spring all about coaching in the world of AT! And I spent tonight reading A Wrinkle In Time with my daughter! #atchat#MrsWhatsItForTheWin
A1 - I honestly haven't considered what I do as coaching although it is time to reframe it as such. We are the guide on the side, helping to build capacity so we are no longer needed. #ATchat
I define coaching as a combination of services to allow the direct service providers adequately provide services when I am not there. Including e-mails, face to face, direct time, videos, data, anything to help them learn. #ATchat
A1: First step, not to call myself a specialist anymore. I use facilitator or coach, which means really leaning toward helping others figure things out for themselves rather than provide answers. Guided questions, rather than solutions. #atchat
I thinks that's easier to do when you work within the district. Here in MA, most towns can't afford distric AT "facilitators" so they need to bring in consultants (like me). #ATchat
A1: First step, not to call myself a specialist anymore. I use facilitator or coach, which means really leaning toward helping others figure things out for themselves rather than provide answers. Guided questions, rather than solutions. #atchat
Rush and Sheldon talk about coaching as an opportunity to work themselves out of a job by building capacity, confidence and competence in others. #atchat
I agree. Coaching is not a one-off. It is a process, vs the silver bullet specialist who drops in solves your problems and sends the bill. #atchat More of a relationship than a contract.
In reply to
@JamesNorthridge, @attipscast, @possbeth
Rush and Sheldon talk about coaching as an opportunity to work themselves out of a job by building capacity, confidence and competence in others. #atchat
I bet that is currently true. I bet coming in from the outside has its unique challenges. Still, you seem to be moving in that direction. What do see as the major challenges to achieving this goal? #atchat
I think it is hard because other professionals don't have the time to keep up with technology. They just have no idea what is possible out there. #ATchat
Rush and Sheldon talk about coaching as an opportunity to work themselves out of a job by building capacity, confidence and competence in others. #atchat
Why not? If we are truly coaching to build capacity, couldn't the Instructional Tech coaches pick up more of the coaching in the day-to-day tasks. #ATchat
That seems to be the key, relationships for the win! It's about building relationships, trust, and empowering the learners with a mindset to own it! #atchat
I bet that is currently true. I bet coming in from the outside has its unique challenges. Still, you seem to be moving in that direction. What do see as the major challenges to achieving this goal? #atchat
It's what I do every day. I use tech to help ALL students. Get called in on IEPs, etc. However, time- as always is my issue. Can't really do 2 jobs and work part time :-) #ATchat
Here is a great video on building capacity. It discusses it in terms of early intervention services, but it really applies to any coaching opportunity https://t.co/p43ce0zl4a#atchat
A2 - modeling, sharing success stories. Just today, I met with a teacher and she immediately implemented two strategies with her students while I was there! Awesome. #ATchat
A2: Taking time to listen to the concerns and involving sigficant people as part of the process from the time of selection through implementation- people are more likely to do when they feel involved. #ATchat
Yes, definitely! Coaching involves reflective questions that guide the teacher, therapist, parent, etc to consider what they think worked or did not work and what they think the next steps are. Consult often means telling them #atchat
I think that is interesting. I function in my building as the AT, but I also have a smaller SLP caseload. All of our speech students have direct and 'consultation' speech - but I guess you'd call it coaching because we do it all time not just when there is a problem. #ATchat
She saw the results immediately and the strategy she used saves her time and is better for her students. I think she will continue to use it. I'll see her again in a month. What do you suggest?
#ATchat
A2: I've been learning about #MotivationalInterviewing This strategy/technique is all about asking guiding questions to bring about an internal change in the person being coached. #atchat
In order to reach all the kids/teachers who need help/coaching, I simply need more time. Not with one person- but to reach all who need coaching. #atchat
You're asking me to move mountains. It's a big business up here. I have presented to their state-wide group but that was four years ago. Ideas? #ATchat
Yes and no. There are ways to do it as "blended" learning, but I find that it is most effective if it is hands on with followup. If tech intimidates the learner- Ss or Ts- they will not use it to access.#ATchat
In reply to
@JamesNorthridge, @possbeth, @KarenJan
I sympathize with you Karen. I am in one building, but I so often I am called often with questions. A lot of people just don't think the way we do. It takes a long time to get people on board, and then staff changes and you start all over again. #ATchat
We have 6 tech coaches in our district. 2 day long trainings to ALL staff per year. Individual training any time needed w/ request. It's awesome #atchat
My hope is that they feel empowered to make a change. This doesn't necessarily happen at the end of the 1st session depending on the topic (#Augcomm, looking at you). I hope I leave them w/ a sense that they can take action to make things better for themselves & students #atchat
A2 Here are some proven strategies:
Joint Planning – an agreed-upon plan between the coach and coachee as to what they will work on and in what routines or activities
#atchat
#ATChat My thinking is that it shouldn’t matter- however, The title should reflect the main goal of the job. Curriculum, design, accommodations, etc. #AdminBuyIn
I think one of my biggest frustrations is I come at education with an OT mindset.We are all about independence.Schools promote S dependence through 1:1 interactions & don't see that as a problem.Coaching involves changing mindsets and long-standing instructional beliefs. #ATchat
A3: common barriers are time, consistency and staff to continue the intervention. However, often staff inform limited time to foster theninterventionnor have a limited knowledge base to make modifications on the fly. #ATchat
I know a book you can invite them to read ;) Seriously though, advocates can continue to exist without requesting AT Evals. Perhaps advocates can participate in a collaborative SETT-like decision making process? Just like AT, perhaps there is not silver bullet here #atchat
I remember advocates in Boston & it was tough going at times. Needed to build relationships of trust across several clients before anything changed & even then not always. #ATchat
I think I see what you're saying. Administrators won't necessarily just create a job of this nature out of the blue. Perhaps #ESSA provides an opportunity to blur those lines a bit? What do you think? #atchat
Would be nice. IDEA says evaluate in all areas of suspected disability and you can't have an AT disability. Then in the AT service part, it talks about an AT evaluation. contradictory and confusing. #ATchat
Thanks for the suggestion. Sometimes I have the problem midstream, when the student is already using their tech well, but someone new comes in and keeps moving it 'out of the way' because they see it as a burden. It takes awhile to convince people sometimes. #ATchat
Imagine a system where there was no "Eval". What if is was Request Assistance (to help the IEP team determine what is necessary for FAPE)? It might still include a functional evaluation (assessment) but not necessarily written as "AT Evaluation." Thoughts? #atchat
A4 You have me reflecting on my practice and realizing I need to ask more reflective questions. I have slides that show the importance of reflection but don't necessary ask those questions. #ATchat
Great point! Today, reflecting helped a user understand and articulate the value of using which tool in what context- didn’t come from me, but from the user. #ATChat
It could be that they ended up there because of negative experiences that built up over time. What do you think are some ways to win them back to become more effective, willing collaborators? #atchat
In reply to
@mswhitson, @VickiBostonSLP, @KarenJan
A4: with my grad students I often start with a general “how do you think that went?” & then break down a snapshot of something specific to discuss. That works when teaching something new. #atchat
Rewrite it or reinterpret it? What is the definition of a Functional Evaluation? I think that is defined by practice. So, maybe we change the practice? #atchat
A4: What are you seeing the X do in x situation? Tell me a little about what happened? What did you think of X interaction? Just get them talking and thinking :) #ATchat
Like, "What do you think the difference between coaching and consulting might be? What made you come to that conclusion? How is that working for you?" Something like that @possbeth ? #atchat
Yes, definitely! Coaching involves reflective questions that guide the teacher, therapist, parent, etc to consider what they think worked or did not work and what they think the next steps are. Consult often means telling them #atchat
And, "are your methods reaching all of your learners? Is that working for all of them? Is it time to rethink what you are doing?" is that too direct? #ATchat
I really like the way Gayle Bowser has talked about the continuum between the two & how you can go from one end of the continuum to another, depending on what a team needs at different points. #ATchat
A4: What makes you think that way? What goal are you trying to achieve? What steps will you take to make that goal happen? How will you measure it? Will you be my Valentine? #atchat#MaybeNotThatLastOne
A5 - I love empowering them, challenging them to think in new ways to reach all learners. When we empower teachers, students benefit. When we empower students, they can change the world. #ATchat
This is true. I just had a teacher ask me for podcasts to share with families. I didn't coach in that case. I just sent a list. Perhaps there isn't just one way for all situations. #atchat
A5 - seeing real change happening in the student’s experience, not because of what I did, more so as it driven by teachers/parents after working them. #atchat
