Streamlining Observations, Feedback, Reflection, and Professional Development: Are You Ready to Be COACHED?

Abstract

Special education teacher preparation programs vary in their usage of practices (e.g., modeling and performance feedback) that have consistently been shown to effectively coach pre-service teachers to sustain high-quality implementation of teaching practices. Research even suggests that some pre-service special education teachers may not receive any of these coaching practices during their field experiences. In this article, we describe a feasible multimedia coaching option for teacher educators and teacher candidates to use to streamline the observation and coaching process using effective coaching practices and improved consistency. Specifically, this multimedia tool can be used to document pre-service teacher practice, generate feedback, deliver targeted instruction, and provide the opportunity for structured self-reflection.