Live coaching meetings get all the love. But let me tell ya...
Asynchronous video coaching is so underrated.
If leveraged correctly, we can use it to:
Provide feedback when you can’t meet immediately
Talk through complex portions of collaborative documents
Share resources that are needed repeatedly: models, walkthroughs of documents, websites, curriculum platforms, how-tos, etc.
Get tone across
Reduce long emails
For several years now my favorite tool for asynchronous coaching has been Loom. No, they’re not paying me to say this (but, hey, Loom, I’m not shutting that door...just sayin'). I just genuinely think it’s a great platform and I wanted to share it in case you haven’t explored how it might support your role coaching teachers.
Why Loom?
While there are many video tools out there, I keep coming back to Loom because it's just so unfussy. You can record yourself, your screen, or both. Videos are available within seconds of recording, there's a handy Chrome extension if you're a Google user so you can go from idea to recording almost immediately, an app if you’re on the move, and the current free plan gives you 50 five-minute videos. That time limit? It actually helps - it keeps me concise and makes the content easily digestible for busy teachers. I also like that it tells me if the video has been viewed, and if teachers choose to create an account, it tells me who has viewed it. I don’t use this for accountability as much as I do for context before a meeting. If the teacher watched the video before our meeting, I may expect them to come in with questions or follow-up on steps they’ve taken since watching; if they haven’t, I know I’ll need to make time for that content during an in-person meeting.
Making Video Work in Your Practice
✨ After Observations: Rather than waiting days for a debrief or trying to capture everything in writing, we can record a quick video highlighting key moments. We might:
Share specific examples of strong moves we noticed
Walk through observation notes together (I share my notes and talk through specific parts)
Offer wondering questions for the teacher to consider
✨ Document Collaboration: Screen sharing while talking through materials helps maintain clarity and connection. This works especially well for:
Lesson planning support
Student work analysis
Curriculum internalization
Data review
✨ Building Teacher Capacity: Some coaching support can be captured once and shared repeatedly by recording videos to be stored as a reference library. I realized, for example, that if a new teacher missed orientation or was hired mid-year, there were many things I was repeating over and over. Then I started recording them. Here are some examples of rinse and repeat videos:
Navigation of key platforms or resources
Common instructional routines
Assessment protocols
Planning processes
Demos and think-alouds
Making It Work
The goal isn't to replace coaching conversations - it's to supplement them thoughtfully. Some things to keep in mind:
✨ Keep It Focused: Brief videos (3-5 minutes) that tackle one clear purpose tend to be most effective. We can always record another video if needed or table other components for coaching meetings.
✨ Stay Human: Just like in coaching conversations, we want to maintain a supportive, collaborative tone. Think "thought partner" rather than "presenter."
✨ Create Dialogue: Invite teachers to respond with their thoughts, questions, or reflections. Video shouldn't be one-way communication. Loom allows people to leave comments and interact with the video in different ways, depending on the plan.
✨ Get on the Same Page About Usage: Ask if the teacher would be willing to try it out, what they should expect (a link to a video), whether videos will be private (anytime feedback is involved I would recommend this setting), and I also think it’s worth being transparent about the fact that the platform notifies you if the video has been viewed.
A Note About Getting Started: You don't need to be a tech wizard to use Loom effectively. The basics:
Install the Chrome extension or the app
Click to record (screen, camera, or both)
Adjust the privacy settings if needed
Share the link
The platform handles the rest, letting you focus on the coaching rather than the technology.
Video coaching isn't about reducing connection - it's about finding new ways to support teachers when traditional coaching structures aren't possible. Used thoughtfully, it can help us maintain momentum between meetings and provide just-in-time support when teachers need it most.
What strategies have you found helpful for maintaining strong coaching relationships when you can't always meet in person?
Note: While Loom is one popular option, there are many video tools available. The key is finding what works best in your context and using it intentionally to support teacher growth.
