Why You Should Know Your eCoach

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By Kerri Lambert, Teacher Specialist, Office of Instructional Technology
  • Where can I find digital activity ideas?
  • How do I download SMART Notebook on my computer at home?
  • Do we have a program students can use to create a video?
  • How can I push a lesson out to my students on their Chromebooks?
Sound familiar? Have you ever asked yourself these types of questions and then wondered who you should ask for help?

That’s where your school’s eCoach comes into play! For almost 20 years, eCoaches in schools have served as a lead teacher for Instructional Technology. They are your on-site support for applications such as Discovery Education, Wixie, WeVideo, Lumio by SMART, and Nearpod, just to name a few. Hosting a parent or community night? Include them! They can work with parents too.

ECoaches receive training and support from us, the Office of Instructional Technology, so that they can support teachers with professional development and questions that come up in the day to day world of teaching with technology. And don’t delete their emails! They are responsible for making sure the school staff is up-to-date with news and changes with applications, Chromebooks, best practices, and instructional strategies. 

What can’t they help with? Password resets, changing projector bulbs, fixing or lending Chromebooks, WiFi issues, etc still go to the school’s support tech. Think:
  • Instructional= eCoach
  • Hardware & Access= Support Tech
So who is this valuable resource in your building? You can use this list to see who is the eCoach for your
school (some have two!), or also keep an eye out for the person wearing their eCoach badge, carrying around a laptop or water bottle with the sticker, or who has proudly posted their eCoach name plate outside their door. Don’t be afraid to email them, stop them in the hall, or pop your head in their door with questions- it’s what they are there for!

For more on the history of the eCoach program, read our blog post from last year. 

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