Putting a Lens on Teacher Practice: Video-Based Peer Coaching. CenterView

Abstract

This issue is part of a series on the Teacher Practice Networks initiative and its efforts to broadly support teachers in implementing college- and career-readiness instruction. Effective teachers frequently reflect on how to improve their practice: "Did I scaffold the lesson well? Did I give students enough processing time? How can I help students connect these two key concepts?" Video is a powerful tool for inquiry-based professional learning that gives teachers the rare opportunity to view their own classroom practice, reflect on what they see, and engage in evidence-based discussions that can lead to changes and improvements in their practice. This issue of "CenterView," explores video-based "peer coaching," specifically: (1) How video helps teachers to see what they normally cannot see; (2) What is video-based peer coaching; (3) What video-based peer coaching looks like in action; (4) Potential challenges to anticipate; and (5) Practical implementation strategies for getting started.