3 Steps to Better Teaching: How Peer Coaching and AI Work Together (via eSchool News)
In the news
In a recent interview with eSchool News, Andi Morency, founder and executive director of the Honors Academy of Literature discussed her school’s innovative professional development model. The model combines AI and video-based coaching with peer collaboration to drive teacher growth and student success.
Leveraging Edthena’s AI Coach and VC3 platforms, teachers engage in a structured three-cycle process throughout the year that includes guided self-reflection, peer feedback, and goal-setting.
“The benefits of this approach are substantial,” Andi said. “It provides objective initial feedback from AI, incorporates diverse perspectives through peer reviews, fosters focused discussions on teaching strategies, encourages continuous improvement, and enhances collaboration among faculty.”
Step 1. Guided self-reflection with AI Coach
The process begins with teachers uploading lesson videos to the AI Coach platform which uses conversational AI to help teachers analyze their lesson based on the school’s professional rubrics and teaching standards. In addition, they receive personalized tips and resources for improvement. This provides teachers with the opportunity to reflect on their teaching.
“By implementing AI Coach, teachers are given the opportunity to self-reflect on their practice and receive additional support before collaborating with their peers. This provides an extra layer to the peer coaching process as teachers continuously work to monitor their progress, implement new strategies, and refine their teaching methods,” Andi explained.
Step 2. Peer-based collaborative feedback with VC3
Next, teachers share these videos with peers through Edthena’s VC3 video coaching platform for additional review and feedback. Peers evaluate the lesson based on specific rubric criteria. In doing so, peer collaborators add perspective and contextual understanding in a way that complements the AI Coach process.
Step 3. Collaborative reflection and goal-setting
Then, teachers come together to discuss insights gathered from both AI analysis and peer feedback, working collaboratively to identify successful strategies and set concrete goals for improvement before beginning their next coaching cycle.
At the core of their PD model is a commitment to continuous improvement through both AI-enabled and human coaching.
As Andi notes, “While AI may raise a lot of questions for school leaders and teachers, using AI for teacher PD doesn’t have to be ‘scary’ when it is implemented thoughtfully. For us, it was low risk with the potential for high reward.”
The school has found that combining AI coaching with peer collaboration provides objective feedback while fostering meaningful discussions about teaching strategies and instructional improvement.
To learn more about how The Honors Academy of Literature is leveraging AI coaching to enhance professional development and drive student success read the full interview from eSchool News.
Interested in combining AI and peer coaching at your school? We’ll show you how Edthena can help. Click here to get in touch!
