Lights, Camera, Learn!

written by Sonia Rodriguez

Introduction

To strengthen professional learning for our elementary academic coaches, I’m implementing an Online Blended Coaching Strategy.  This article highlights how video technology makes coaching more personalized, engaging, and accessible.  Blended learning is more than a trend, it's transformative.  Horn and Staker (2015) define it as a formal education program where students engage in both in-person and online learning, with some control over time, place, and pace.  Video is one of the most powerful and accessible tools in online blended coaching.  If you're a K–12 instructional leader aiming to personalize learning, improve communication, support teachers, and raise student achievement, this article is for you.

Unlocking the Power of Video: A Game-Changer for Academic Coaches

Video is a low-cost, high-impact technology that brings authenticity and flexibility to coaching and instruction.  But here’s the kicker, it only works when you create a safe and supportive learning culture.  As Geller (2017) points out, when you create a culture that’s psychologically safe, amazing things can happen. Really tight bonds can be made and a lot of learning can happen really, really fast.

The Power of Video in Professional Learning

A strong online blended coaching strategy blends the best of face-to-face learning with the flexibility of digital tools.  Academic Coaches can:

• Take ownership of their learning
  
  

• Engage with on-demand resources
  
  

• Reflect at their own pace
  
  

• Participate in personalized and meaningful feedback loops
  
  

Geller (2017) says it best: Most people want to be good at what they do, and to be good at what you do, you have to get a clear picture of where you are.  Video becomes a bridge, connecting theory to practice and observation to growth.  It allows teachers and coaches to take on real coaching challenges while building problem-solving and self-directed learning skills.  

Using Video Intentionally

When we talk about video in coaching, we’re not talking about playing video and moving on.  We’re talking about recording instruction, reflecting on it, and using that reflection to drive meaningful conversations and change.

Video-based coaching is a game changer because it:

• Overcomes logistical challenges (scheduling, geography, time constraints)
  
  

• Enhances reflection by offering a rewindable, reviewable record of practice
  
  

• Allows teachers to notice and analyze classroom dynamics they may have missed in the moment of instruction
  
  

According to Carson and Choppin (2021), video annotations where teachers and coaches highlight key moments for later discussion help structure and streamline debriefs.  These annotations guide the conversation, making meetings more focused and productive.  As coaches, we can hone in on the impact of a specific question or strategy used during instruction and push reflection deeper to come up with an action item to improve instruction.  

An academic coach aimed to improve her pacing during the Application Problem in Eureka Math staying within the time limit without rushing students.  She recorded a 10-minute lesson using Swivl, shared the video with me, and we both added time-stamped annotations.  During a scheduled Google Meet, we reviewed the video and focused our discussion using the annotations.  The virtual format made the process simple and efficient.   

Evidence-Based Reflection Leads to Action

Carney (2018) found that video-based reflections helped teachers focus more on instructional techniques and students’ conceptual understanding (p. 49).  Carson and Choppin’s (2021) research on online coaching through video analysis revealed that:

• Collaborative conversations on math instruction and student engagement flourished online
  
  

• Coaches used video and annotations to support teacher reflection
  
  

• Strong, trusting relationships formed even without in-person contact
  
  

Annotations not only provide structure but also offer insight into what the teacher sees as important.  This allows coaches to better understand the teacher’s perspective, awareness, and decision-making.  It saves time and creates a clear starting point for meaningful conversations about instructional impact.

Robert Schank’s theory on Analytic Processes supports this approach. When teachers and coaches analyze lesson footage to understand what happened and why, they’re engaging in diagnostic thinking using real evidence to uncover cause and effect.

In the earlier example, after reviewing the video and annotations, the teacher and coach realized too much time was spent on reading and discussing the word problem, limiting student work time.

Action Step: For the next lesson, the teacher streamlined the RDW process using a visual aid (RDW Poster) and set a 2–3 minute timer for the launch. She recorded the session again to reflect on pacing and ensure students had enough time to solve the problem.

Just Start—It’s Easier Than You Think

According to Huberman (2023), difficulty and challenges when you are learning something are not signs that you reached your limit, they are signs that you are expanding your limits.  The most important step?  Start recording.  You don’t have to be a tech expert to use video in coaching.  All you need is the willingness to press “record” and the mindset to learn as you go.  There are many user-friendly video tools available for recording, editing, and sharing so there’s no need to feel overwhelmed.

With intentional planning, video can:

• Foster collaboration
  
  

• Support reflective dialogue
  
  

• Create a personalized path for professional growth

Technology Tools for Video:

• Google Meets - Online Video calls and meetings to connect and collaborate with the option to record. 

• Loom - Create, edit, notate and share videos

• Screencastify - Create and share interactive video with camera on or off.  .  Video tools designed for educators.

• Vimeo - Record screen with camera on or off, includes teleprompter, video editing

• Zoom - Bring teams together with video conferencing

• Swivl - Swivl built its foundation in education with tools to observe and coach teachers. They’ve expanded their solutions to help everyone in education adapt and grow better.

Final Thoughts

Video in blended coaching is more than a tool, it’s a strategy for transformation. When used intentionally, it enhances communication, deepens reflection, and drives meaningful growth. It supports teachers in developing their instructional craft and gives coaches a powerful way to engage in evidence-based conversations.

Let’s stop thinking of video as just something we watch and start using it as a tool to elevate the art of coaching, teaching and learning.  If you found this helpful, feel free to share it with fellow leaders. Together, we can strengthen coaching practices and make a greater impact. Wishing you continued success!

April 17, 2025

References