Educational Technology Leads (ETLs)
In the development of our Educational Technology Plan and the ADSB Strategic Plan, job embedded professional learning opportunities to support the integration of technology as a teaching and learning tool has been identified as a priority. Our priority is enhanced by Fullan and Langworthy’s research report, A Rich Seam which notes that: “learning partners use technology to construct knowledge, to investigate and solve real problems, to give each other feedback and assess one another’s work, to collaborate beyond the boundaries of the classroom and the school day, and to communicate with peers, experts and others throughout the world” (p.33) and that “Technology … is pervasive and it is used to discover and master content knowledge and to enable the deep learning goals of creating and using new knowledge in the world.” (p.3)
We recognize the importance of building capacity, and of having a lead person to assist teachers with integrating technology into their deep learning tasks and assessment practices to increase student engagement and to accelerate learning.
The Educational Technology Lead is an instrumental team member in the development of the school’s Educational Technology Professional Learning and in the implementation of the ADSB Educational Technology Plan. Pictured (left) is Mike Connell, a teacher and ETL at Rosedale Public School. He shared his perspective on the position at a recent board meeting along with Marty Stilin (ADSB Technology & Data Coordinator). Educational Technology Leads support the use of technology as an effective teaching and learning tool, support the use of technology integration into the curriculum, and provide training and one-to-one support to colleagues.
In their role as ETLs, they assist and collaborate with their colleagues in the development of rich learning tasks that integrate technology. To support the ETLs in their role, Board-level professional learning and training sessions are provided to help build their repetoire of technology applications and technology integration. ETLs regularly showcase and demonstrate current technology to colleagues, provide school-based technology in-service, small group training and 1 on 1 support andassist students with their use of technology.