As a French teacher-turned-ITS, I get asked lots of questions about my past and current career path. Below are the five questions I get asked most frequently and my "elevator speech" answers to them:
How did a French teacher become interested in technology?? (often asked in bewilderment)
As a French teacher in the small town of Cumming, GA (not so small anymore), it was impossible to take my students to France every day. But using the technology that was available to me (which grew every year) allowed me to bring France to my students every day, through music, film, news, and videos. Each year brought new ways to engage students and allowed me to explore new tools.
So you're in IT?
No. I actually really dislike the title ITS because it makes people think that I'm in IT. I prefer the title of EdTech Coach or Instructional Technology Coach, but ITS is what I have. When I say it, I emphasize INSTRUCTIONAL technology SPEACIALIST. I help teachers use technology more effectively in their classroom.
Do you fix things?
Nope, not really. There are things that I know how to fix, but that's mostly stuff I've figured out on my own to avoid having to wait. I also don't do wires or coding. My focus is on pedagogy that includes technology. Pedagogy first.
What does your day look like?
As a school-level ITS, my day is completely unpredictable. I try to devote Tuesdays to the Wild Tech Café, but of course that doesn't always happen. Unlike a classroom teacher, I don't often get to close my door and teach. Instead, I am at the whim of whatever the edtech spirits throw my way. Sometimes, it's a fantastic opportunity to coach a teacher in the best way to use technology to meet their instructional goal. Others, it's a day spent in unengaging-but-necessary training on how to do something. Still others, it's spent running from one end of the building to another, putting out fires. But change is coming to my life, so we'll see what that brings (shh! no details yet!).
Are you a school or district ITS? What would you add to this list?
How did a French teacher become interested in technology?? (often asked in bewilderment)
As a French teacher in the small town of Cumming, GA (not so small anymore), it was impossible to take my students to France every day. But using the technology that was available to me (which grew every year) allowed me to bring France to my students every day, through music, film, news, and videos. Each year brought new ways to engage students and allowed me to explore new tools.
So you're in IT?
No. I actually really dislike the title ITS because it makes people think that I'm in IT. I prefer the title of EdTech Coach or Instructional Technology Coach, but ITS is what I have. When I say it, I emphasize INSTRUCTIONAL technology SPEACIALIST. I help teachers use technology more effectively in their classroom.
Do you fix things?
Nope, not really. There are things that I know how to fix, but that's mostly stuff I've figured out on my own to avoid having to wait. I also don't do wires or coding. My focus is on pedagogy that includes technology. Pedagogy first.
What does your day look like?
As a school-level ITS, my day is completely unpredictable. I try to devote Tuesdays to the Wild Tech Café, but of course that doesn't always happen. Unlike a classroom teacher, I don't often get to close my door and teach. Instead, I am at the whim of whatever the edtech spirits throw my way. Sometimes, it's a fantastic opportunity to coach a teacher in the best way to use technology to meet their instructional goal. Others, it's a day spent in unengaging-but-necessary training on how to do something. Still others, it's spent running from one end of the building to another, putting out fires. But change is coming to my life, so we'll see what that brings (shh! no details yet!).
Are you a school or district ITS? What would you add to this list?
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