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Water the Flowers, Not the Rocks 2024

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In June 2024 I presented the lessons I learned from coaching at the ISTELive Conference in Denver. I first wrote about this topic when I left my role as a school-based coach in 2018. EdTech K-12 Magazine asked me to write an article for their online publication. The text below is from the online article , published August 14, 2024. 10 Lessons Learned from 10 Years of Coaching K–12 Educators Water the flowers, not the rocks. By Nicole Zumpano Nicole Zumpano spent a decade as an instructional technology coach in  Chicago Public Schools . She has left her mark on education as a teacher, coach, director and adjunct instructor.  The role of instructional coach is a complicated position in education. It requires flexibility, self-reflection and a thick skin. Instructional coaches often work with the entire faculty of a school building — or, in some cases, an entire district. Just as  teachers modify instruction each year  when new students enter their classrooms, coaches modify their practi
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5 Tips for Growing Your PLN This Year

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  Originally written and published here in 2023 Now that we’re a full step into the new year, it’s time to start making good on our New Year’s resolutions. For many educators, that includes forging new connections and implementing new strategies for making professional learning sustainable all year long. One way you can do both at once is through a professional learning network or PLN. These personalized networks are often made up of numerous educators working together to build professional relationships, share insights, and enhance their professional capacity through mutual learning. Put another way, a robust PLN is your ticket to ongoing professional development that’s tailored to your individualized learning goals. Through a PLN, you’ll expand your horizons and foster human connections that you can leverage down the line for some much-needed support and problem-solving. All of that starts by building out your PLN. Here are five strategies for growing your PLN that I recommend to all
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7 Ways To Get the Most Out of ISTE Certification

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  Originally written for ISTE 's official blog , November 2023.  Over the course of my career, I’ve looked for new opportunities to reflect on my practice and learn from other like-minded individuals. I’ve led study groups, conducted action research and obtained (and renewed) National Board Certification. I’ve sought professional development with the same rigor as those experiences. The  ISTE Certification  program was the answer I was looking for. ISTE Certification is an internationally recognized credential in which those in education show mastery of the ISTE Standards for Educators. The devices and tools you use aren’t the center of this professional development; pedagogy is. The rigorous program will deepen reflection on your practice and have you analyzing how (or if) technology fits in. Now that I am officially an  ISTE Certified Educator , here are seven tips that helped me maximize my learning while enrolled in the program. 1. Check your schedule.   The first phase of the
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6 Steps to Building a Successful Edtech Coaching Program

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  In February 2023 I authored a  blog post for ISTE . Below is the piece.  In today’s world, technology is an integral part of education. School districts invest in technology devices to help prepare students for success in future careers, but it takes more than laptops and tablets to harness the power of technology. It’s time to invest in personnel that can bring a return on that investment. Creating an instructional technology coaching program  can impact teacher practice by helping educators effectively use technology to improve student learning. Here’s how to build a successful instructional technology coaching program.  1. Hire the right people.  The success of your coaching program depends on who will be leading it. In addition to a technology-rich skillset, candidates need pedagogical knowledge as well.   During interviews, ask questions about how the candidate works with others. How do they resolve conflicts? Do they understand adult learners? I also ask candidates to give a sh
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ChatGPT for Educators

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 In February 2023 I authored a blog post for ISTE . Below is the piece.  In my three decades in education, I’ve come to learn many things. One is that change moves at a snail’s pace until something steps in to challenge the status quo.  Enter ChatGPT.  As you’ve no doubt heard, since this artificial intelligence program became freely available to the public, ChatGPT has made educators nervous, excited and curious about the impact it will have on our field.  Once resources became available, I curated a list of the pieces I felt educators should engage with to gain an understanding of ChatGPT. I shared this list with a small professional learning network I belong to. One of the members of the PLN took the resources and created an  easy-to-read detailed slide deck , which was then publicly shared throughout our networks, including the ISTE community forum  ISTE Connect . While I encourage you to look through our guide in its entirety, here are five recommendations that are a great place t
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Mapping Your Professional Learning Network, Part 2

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Back in January 2021 , I wrote a post about my Professional Learning Network (PLN). In this post, I mapped out who helps me grow professionally and reflected on the contents. Here is what I said then: What I Notice I have an extensive network. This may not come as a surprise to most, as I’ve been in the field for 28 years. What is significant about this, however, is that even though I have been in the field for a long time I am still learning from others, seeking help from others, and giving back to my network.  I contribute as much as I consume. For me, I see this as one of the internal traits of being an educator- to share. I often will find resources that relate to the work others are doing and will pass content on. Those who connect with me are used to my “FYI” or “Thought of You” emails with links to content I think they can use. I tend to predominately connect with colleagues who share the same viewpoints on education. This can be seen as both a positive and a negative. Given the
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ChatGPT & Productive PLNs

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If you are in education and/or not currently living under a rock, you most likely have heard of ChatGPT. This Artificial Intelligence program has educators on their toes. The program can complete several tasks in seconds including generating essays, producing job descriptions, writing poetry, and solving coding errors to name a few. For free (at least for now).  As this controversial advancement came onto the scene, I began collecting resources. I knew coaches, fellow adjuncts, and others in education would want to acquire as much information as they could. I shared my document in a small professional learning network I belong to. One of the members of that group took the links and created a visual resource guide. The final product, found at http://bit.ly/ChatGPTinEdu has had 5,397 views in a little over a month between December 20, 2002, and January 31, 2023.  Sharing the information with my PLN initially and the resource that came out of that reinforces to me the power of PLNs.  If
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