Reed Hastings, Co-Founder of Netflix, shares the following example of the power of feedback in his book No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention.
In 2003, a small community south of Los Angeles faced a serious problem related to their schools—not the conditions within the schools, but the safety surrounding them. The issue was an alarmingly high incidence rate of car and pedestrian accidents. Several approaches were tried, from street sign warnings to increased police presence and ticketing, but the results were minimal; the accident rate barely changed.
That’s when city engineers proposed a different idea: in-the-moment feedback. They wondered, what if drivers were informed of their actual speed as they approached the area? Many doubted this approach, given that previous measures had little effect. However, the results were remarkable. Drivers slowed down by 14% at three schools, and the average speed actually fell below the speed limit.
So, it wasn’t external accountability but rather self-regulation fostered by immediate feedback that sparked significant behavioral changes. This example underscores the transformative impact of real-time feedback, illustrating how timely, actionable information can lead to significant improvements in teaching and learning outcomes.
Real-Time Teacher Coaching (RTTC)
Similarly, Real-Time Teacher Coaching (RTTC) applies the power of in-the-moment feedback to educational settings. As RTTC Program Lead with CT3 Education and with a decade of experience in training coaches, I have found it to be the most efficient, effective, and impactful approach for building skills, redirecting habits, and improving performance. This coaching process provides immediate, actionable support to teachers during their instruction through real-time interactions, allowing for on-the-spot adjustments and enhancements in teaching strategies.
Key Features of Real-Time Teacher Coaching:
- Immediate Feedback: Coaches observe classroom instruction and provide feedback in real-time, empowering teachers to make adjustments while the lesson is ongoing. This immediacy helps reinforce effective practices and correct issues as they arise.
- Focused and Purposeful Coaching: The coaching process is designed to be specific and targeted, helping teachers to concentrate on particular areas of improvement. Coaches utilize established “look-fors” to guide their observations and feedback sessions
- Strategic Coaching Conferences: The RTTC model includes a structured format for pre-conferencing, observation, and post-conferencing. This ensures that both coaches and teachers have clear expectations and goals for each coaching interaction
- Impact on Student Outcomes: The approach is designed not only to improve teacher performance but also to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Teachers report that the immediate feedback they receive leads to noticeable improvements in their practice and their students’ performance.
Benefits of Real-Time Teacher Coaching:
- Transformative Experience: Many educators find RTTC to be a transformative experience that significantly impacts their teaching methods and student interactions. The real-time nature of the coaching offers a unique opportunity to experience immediate results.
- High Renewal Rates: The effectiveness of RTTC is reflected in the high renewal rates of schools partnering with CT3, indicating strong satisfaction and perceived value in the coaching process. Last year alone, over 3,000 Real-Time Teacher Coaching Cycles were conducted with more than 1,000 teachers in over 80 schools across 18 cities.
The success of real-time feedback, from road safety to classrooms, highlights its transformative power. Real-Time Teacher Coaching embodies this approach, equipping coaches and teachers with immediate, actionable insights that lead to sustained improvements in teaching and learning.
