Coaching Innovations

Abstract

This book offers alternative and innovative methods to improve preservice and inservice teacher education. The book explores options in preservice education for supervisor coaching of interns completed through both traditional face-to-face and virtual formats. Additionally, professional development strategies for inservice teachers using face-to-face and virtual coaching are discussed with the goal of improving teachers’ classroom content and pedagogy, enhancing teachers’ ability to engage diverse student populations, and supporting teachers’ in innovative classroom technology applications.The book discusses the benefit of using coaching with both preservice and inservice teachers thus shifting the focus of work with teachers from evaluation to increased support in the classroom. Notably, the book explores an innovative model for this work using virtual coaching to provide teacher candidates and practicing teachers much-needed support embedded within their unique classroom context. This model uses Bluetooth Bug-in-the Ear (BIE) devices with Skype voice over-IP software to deliver virtual coaching. Finally, this book encourages readers to examine coaching relationships and to consider how we as educators engage in coaching practices with our colleagues and our students.