If there’s one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, other than the importance of listening to medical professionals and scientists when we’re told to wear PPE, it’s that edtech is an integral part of education. Without it, the online learning necessary to continue education with schools’ closing would not be possible. 

The use of edtech would also not be possible without valuable edtech coaches, who train teachers and educators to properly use education technology to its fullest. Edtech coaches play an essential role in helping districts meet the challenges of online learning.

We’re going to discuss the importance of edtech coaches and how they help teachers better understand a technologically-fueled education environment.

Edtech Coaches Understand the Tech Skills of Students and Teachers

For a few years now, edtech coaches have worked closely with teachers, helping them use technology to enhance their lessons and classrooms. As a result, they have become more familiar with students’ and teachers’ technological capabilities than most people. 

Subsequently, this makes them one of the most accurate sources of information regarding what should be in place to properly facilitate online learning for both students and teachers. Additionally, coaches have also been able to build relationships with students during the school years. 

Their presence as pillars in districts’ remote learning strategies can help teachers feel like they have more support when they need to face new challenges. It can also help relieve some stress by creating a stronger sense of continuity in the abrupt transition from physical to online learning. 

They Understand the Best Tools for Different Contexts

Luckily for us, there are plenty of resources and tools to supplement and support online learning. However, trying to find the right tool for the situation from the thousands of available resources out there is often a confusing and overwhelming undertaking for most teachers.

This is especially true for teachers that don’t have much experience with online teaching and the use of edtech. Leveraging their extensive experience with assisting teachers in moving through the most relevant training practices, edtech coaches can help find edtech tools and resources appropriate for different contexts and teachers.

Edtech Coaches Know District Goals

Since they have so much experience aiding students and teachers with the use of technology in learning and teaching and understanding the goals for specific districts, edtech coaches can uniquely support communities with the successful implementation of at-home, online learning.

They can also facilitate effective communication between district administrators and teachers during the current period of extended closure. This is thanks to their clearer sense of the obstacles that both parties face. 

Because edtech coaches contact teachers directly, they are strong advocates for teachers’ specific needs, ensuring that only the most relevant and appropriate support and resources for online learning are being delivered. 

Concluding Thoughts

Edtech coaches are playing a crucial role in this uncertain time. Thanks to their familiarity with the tech skills of students and teachers, and district goals, they can identify which edtech tools are best for each individual situation – something incredibly valuable in a time like this.