GREAT SCOTT! Going Back to the Future at This Year’s Coaching Digital Learning Institute, 2015

We can all agree that while a growing number of schools and districts across North Carolina are making the transition to technology-enabled learning, technology is not the driving force behind these initiatives; teaching and learning always need to be at the forefront. On October 28th & 29th, we hosted over 130 enthusiastic Instructional technology facilitators, media coordinators, instructional specialists, technology-driven educators and mentoring staff who have taken the lead in implementing digital transitions in their schools and districts, leading their colleagues towards the future. In honoring this effort and their work, we went Back to the Future for this year’s event and when we do Professional Learning, we don't just engage, we have a blast!!

 It is an honor and so much fun to be in charge of this annual event at the Friday Institute. The Coaching Digital Learning Institute (formerly the Technology Leader’s Institute) offered by the Professional Learning and Leading Collaborative at NC State University's Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, just wrapped up it’s 7th year, (My fourth year leading this event).

This one of a kind professional learning event is designed to support K-12 educators’ digital transition needs in districts supported by the Golden Leaf Foundation, our partner for this institute. It is a fun-filled two days of learning, playing, and digging deep into what it means to coach others through a digital transition.

There may not be flying cars and hover-boards in 2015, but there truly is so much to offer our students when it comes to digital learning and teaching. Twenty-eight guest educators and instructional coaches from across North Carolina, along with Friday Institute and NC State University staff, facilitated 30 workshops, a mini-EdCamp, a MakerSpace inspired playground experience, a Goose Chase, Breakout EDU challenges, a participant driven tool-slam, and an ignite talk by Spring Lake Middle School Principal and 2014 NASSP’s National Digital Principal Award recipient, Derek McCoy. Needless to say it was a packed two days filled with exploration, taking risk with intention, failing forward, building professional networks, and sharing best practices and strategies to support student-centered learning and empowering educators at all levels.

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As the dust settles on what was the best Coaching Digital Learning Institute (CDLi) event we ever have had, we are already preparing for next year. The feedback and overwhelming response tells us we are doing something right, and we cannot wait to continue to support the growth and capacity of our educators in North Carolina.  ​

This year’s institute was created with the amazing support of Emmy Coleman, Lisa Hervey, Alex Kaulfuss, Brittany Miller, and the amazing Friday Institute Coordinators – Thank you, Team!
Interested in more about this year’s CDLi, 2015? Check out our website.

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We truly get into our themes, and though costumes are not required, they are certainly admired. Even our participants join the fun. Video is from CDLi15 event.