There’s a group of educators that are the unsung heroes in our buildings. They hear endless numbers of issues and frustrations from all corners of the woodwork. They work tirelessly to troubleshoot a sometimes impossible list of scenarios from the simple “did you plug it in?” to the complex workflow. They are 21st century problem-solver extraordinaires! Yes, I’m talking about the TECH LIAISONS who (on top of their teaching workload) volunteer their time and energy to support their school. Ultimately their passion, help create the conditions for students to be universally included in the learning environment.
What makes one want to do this role? Frankly, it is not having a technical knowledge base (though sometimes that does help with speed). It is the skill of listening, critical thinking and communicating. Listening for what is said and what is not said allows a story sequence to unfold. What did the teacher or administrator want to be able to do? What questions need to be asked to unravel the mystery? What is missing that needs to be practiced (or misconceptions realigned) to empower for next time? What resources might be accessed to both support the current comfort zone as well as challenge and extend practices? In the end, the goal is to build capacity. Interesting that this same set of skills is also in our new curriculum as part of the “educated citizen”.
Our Tech Liaisons are amazing. The next time your paths cross, give them a high-five, a big hug, or a little surprise. I’d be very interested in hearing (via comments below) how they’ve helped you in your teaching/learning journey.