The POWER of INTERACTIONS and TECHNOLOGY – Part I: TA Practitioners Strengthen Skills

The official data is not in yet, but preliminary findings show that the Infant Toddler Intensive Technical Assistance Model Pilot Project (ITITA Model) is making a difference in the lives of children, teachers, directors and the Technical Assistance Practitioners (TAs) working with them.

With funding through the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Early Years on behalf of the NC CCR&R Council is partnering with Randolph County Partnership for Children, Children’s Council of Watauga County and Child Care Resource Center to provide intensive technical assistance to infant and toddler teachers and the directors in those programs.

Focusing on teachers’ interactions using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and the Program Administration Scale (PAS) to support directors in their early childhood leadership and management, technical assistance practitioners have built strong relationships with the participants through weekly contact using a strength-based approach.

Change is happening through the power of interactions and with the aid of technology. Anecdotal records show positive outcomes for everyone involved in the pilot. We will be sharing a few success stories so far achieved over the course of the next two weeks. Our first one is about how TAs have strengthened their skills.

Using technology, TAs meet virtually with their mentor coach. During these weekly meetings, TAs help teachers and directors with issues they are facing and support their goals. The TAs videotape some of their coaching sessions with teachers or directors to reflect and strengthen their own communication skills.

By modeling how they use videotaping to improve their interactions, teachers have a better understanding, a bit of empathy and a willingness to be videotaped themselves. Some of the greatest personal growth in this project has come from the TAs’ guided, supportive reflection of the teachers’ own teaching practices.