Instructional Coaching Goes Virtual: Leveling Up Professional Practice

By Caroline D. Haebig

Needless to say, education professionals are facing a lot of fluidity and change this year. One area worth exploring is the implementation of instructional coaching in a virtual format. While this concept may seem obvious, some school administrators and coaches have questioned whether it is possible to provide high-quality instructional coaching virtually.

Create Flexible Opportunities

A variety of coaching industries have thrived using a virtual format. From fitness, business and counseling coaching, to therapy and health coaching, these services focus on meeting people where they are and working to develop new skills and strategies, and to collect data for progress monitoring. No matter what coaching philosophy your school system subscribes to, chances are high that the role of instructional coaching in your school system focuses on building trusting relationships between coaches and teachers with the goals of focusing on instructional growth and student achievement. Whether your teachers, students or coaches are working in face-to-face, blended or completely virtual environments, instructional coaching using a virtual method still can accomplish these goals and even provide additional benefits.

Now is the Time

Educational instructional coaching expert Jim Knight is a long-time proponent of using video. He emphasizes the strength of video to analyze specific aspects of a lesson to inform coaching conversations. More than ever before, lessons are being captured and recorded as a result of the increase in blended and virtual learning. There are new opportunities to engage teachers and instructional coaches in exploring, refining and modeling best practices for learning.

View a Sample Pilot Proposal
Creating a pilot for instructional coaching in a virtual format will support the professional growth of teachers and coaches as well as to identify what works best for your school system. This Sample Pilot Proposal highlights the value of instructional coaching using a virtual model and pinpoints essential questions, desired outcomes and actions that an instructional coaching pilot can provide. Starting at a smaller scale with a pilot program will also facilitate the development of a systems-based approach to high impact instructional coaching in a virtual format.