Across the country, districts are trying to measure the impact ofinstructional coachingon teacher effectiveness and student performance. While the correlation between educator quality and student outcomes has long been proven, there have been few studies that effectively measure trends in teacher growth as correlated to student growth.
Matthew A. Kraft and Dylan Hogan of Brown University, in collaboration with David Blazar at the University of Maryland, recently published such astudyin theReview of Educational Research(summarized here onThe Hechinger Report).他们的研究结果持乐观态度,但现在如果gnificant challenge to be addressed: scalability.
What Is the Impact of Instructional Coaching?
Kraft, Hogan, and Blazar found there'ssignificant evidence to show that a high-quality coaching experience can improve a teacher’s skillset.In fact, gains seen from high-quality instructional coaching were equivalent to the gains seen in teacher experience learned over 5–10 years (as compared to a first-year teacher).
The impact did not end with teacher skill development. There was also evidence of a value-added effect on student achievement from teachers who had a high-quality instructional coach.
Instructional Coaching Is Better Than PD Workshops
It’s important to note that the gains seen in the instructional coaching study exceeded gains from impact studies that try to prove the effectiveness of other, more traditional professional development options, such as PD workshops.
There are two caveats to this study that are worth considering, however:
1. Not all instructional coaching is high quality.
The instructional coaching programs that were proven to have an impact on student achievement all had similar characteristics. Feedback was a crucial factor. Without high-quality feedback from a coach, instructional coaching was not likely to have a positive impact on classroom performance.
Additionally, enthusiasm matters. Teachers who were excited about participating in coaching and who had a positive relationship with their coaches were more likely to show gains than those who were forced to participate in a coaching experience. That doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t require coaching for all teachers, but the way you sell it matters.
2.有收益递减比例instructional coaching in larger programs.
In the studies explored by Kraft, Hogan, and Blazar, the biggest barrier to success was scale. Small, campus-level programs were shown to have a significant impact on teacher effectiveness and student performance. As programs grow, there is an inverse relationship between size and effectiveness.
What Can We Learn About the Impact of Instructional Coaching?
There are some important lessons to take away from this study.
While instructional coaching seems to be the most effective way to improve the quality of teaching and learning, relying on pencil and paper will not work if you are trying to coach more than a few teachers. Unless you have a way to monitor conversations and provide feedback on the coaching conversations that take place in your program, there will be varying degrees of effectiveness in the quality of coaching that takes place. This will be dependent upon the coach, the relationship with each teacher, and the context in which each conversation takes place. Consistently high-quality feedback requires calibration at scale. Coaches need to be given the chance to receive feedback from one another on the support they provide to teachers.
Managing the complexity of an instructional coaching program at scale will require some sort of analytical data that can be easily and quickly reviewed by program administrators to ensure fidelity across the program. It is unrealistic to assume that anyone can manage a large program without defining some key performance metrics for coaches and ensuring that everyone meets those metrics regularly.
Most importantly, it seems that time will continue to be the greatest factor. While in-person observation and conversation can be highly effective, it is unrealistic to believe that such a program can be easily scheduled with hundreds, or even thousands, of teachers to be coached. Luckily, technology provides a welcome solution to that problem. Smartphone-captured videos that can be securely shared between coach and teacher will allow observation and feedback to take place virtually. Kraft, Hogan, and Blazar are studying a blended model of video-enhanced coaching now. Their recognition of this as a solution to the scalability problem is a promising indicator that schools and districts need a technology solution that eliminates the barriers of time and space that traditional coaching programs present.
Clearly, ensuring consistent, high-quality instruction is crucial as schools continue to grow and resources continue to shrink. There are few silver bullets in education, but a high-quality teacher can be one of them. The focus on lifelong teacher development that leaves behind traditional professional development models and finds new ways to help teachers grow is a major challenge that serious educators around the country are accepting. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Without high-quality teachers, students are at risk of failing at school, which is why it is crucial for schools and districts to find scalable ways to make instructional coaching work.
***
Learn more about the full range ofHMH coaching services, which are offered in online, blended, and in-person formats.
Be the first to read the latest fromShaped.
CORE CURRICULUM
HMH Social Studies, 6-12
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
AP Human Geography
Personal Finance
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
SUPPLEMENTAL
Connected Teaching and Learning
HMH’s Connected Teaching and Learning integrates assessment, core instruction, supplemental practice, intervention, and professional learning all on one platform.
Professional Development
Providing professional development for teachers, HMH’s professional learning courses, coaching, and leadership advisory supports educators every step of the way.
Keeping It Current For Grades 6–12
Each month we bring you videos, articles, and current events designed to build cultural awareness, media literacy, and a deeper understanding of significant historical figures and events.
For Teachers
Coaching Membership
Teacher's Corner
Live Online Courses
SEE ALL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
For Leaders
ICLE (International Center for Leadership in Education)
Intervention Curriculum
HMH's K-12 intervention programs are built on 20+ years of proven results. We can help teachers develop an intervention curriculum that meets students' needs.
Science of Reading eBook
In this exclusive Science of Reading eBook you’ll find research-backed information that will walk you through the experience new readers face as they build their reading brain.
Model Schools Conference
Join us for our 31st annual Model School Conferences presented by ICLE. We showcase districts, schools, and educators who have achieved success.
AP & Electives
Assessment
Early Learning
English Language Development
Homeschool
Intervention
Literacy
Mathematics
Professional Development
Science
School Improvement
Social and Emotional Learning
Social Studies
Special Education
Summer School
SEE ALL SOLUTIONS
Intervention Curriculum
HMH's K-12 intervention programs are built on 20+ years of proven results. We can help teachers develop an intervention curriculum that meets students' needs.
BROWSE RESOURCES
Classroom Activities
Customer Success Stories
Digital Samples
Events & Webinars
Grants & Funding
International
Research Library
Shaped - HMH Blog
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Contact Sales
Customer Service & Technical Support Portal
Platform Login
Free Teaching Resources: Fun Classroom Activities and Lesson Plan Ideas
Here you'll find free learning activities, lessons, downloadables, and videos for students in Grades K–12 to keep learning and growing at grade level.
2022–2023 Monthly Calendar Themes for School
Check out these monthly calendar themes for school, complete with teaching resources for holidays and other days of significance for all grade levels.
Learn about us
About
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Governance
News Announcements
Our Legacy
Social Responsibility
Supplier Diversity
Join Us
Careers
Educator Input Panel
Suppliers and Vendors
Divisions
Heinemann
ICLE (International Center for Leadership in Education)
NWEA