Videocoaching as a vehicle for collegial reflection and growth in quality interactions with young children
The VerBEELDing research team developed a useful professionalisation tool for videocoaching that stimulates the in-depth observation of the total development and experiences of children, analyses the adult-child interaction from the children’s perspective and provides coaching of professionals with attention to strengths and growth opportunities in their interactions with children.
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Video guidance for ECEC professionals
This research responded to the need to develop video guidance methodologies, which research explicitly has shown to have their value, in an appreciative and accessible manner tailored to ECEC - to reflect together with childcare professionals on their interactions with young children.
Data collection
In this participatory and practice-oriented design research projects (VerBEELDing + VerBEELDing XL), we worked together with six daycare centers, both with educators and coordinators. Also, several preschools, out-of-school centres and bachelor programs in this field participated. We collected data through conversation reports, a research log and several series of focusgroups. The result is a widely applicable method for videocoaching with professionals who (future) work on high-quality interactions with children aged 0 to 6 in ECEC.
Videocoaching: the method
Videocoaching is a method of engaging with practitioners in reflective processes by raising their awareness and exploring different aspects of daily practices that can contribute to enhancing children’s development. During videocoaching sessions, practitioners become able to see new insights that could gradually improve their educational interaction with children. It is a reflective observation tool that maps the total development of the child and visualizes the total experience of the child: the child as a unique person in interaction with the world, the educators and the other children. The method challenges the staff - by looking small at the children’s experiences, development and talents of the children - to think about their own role in rich and high-quality interaction (Bracke, Hostyn, Steverlynck, & Verschaeve, 2018; Bracke, Hostyn, Steverlynck & Verschaeve, 2020). This is input for individual as well as team reflection. Videocoaching accompanies practitioners in the process of re-thinking their way of acting with children and promotes the inclusion of every child in our child-care and education practice (Verschaeve et al. 2020).
Bundle of stories and growth tool about videocoaching
This research project provided know-how and insights to further innovate existing childcare practice by means of videocoaching.
A powerful collection of stories together with a growth tool 'interaction in images, interaction in conversation' (consisting of process frameworks, viewing frameworks and technical information) is a supporting material for this process.
The different stories show that videocoaching gives childcare professionals a new pair of eyes, if:
- you would like to see yourself and your interaction with children from outside, in a safe learning environment;
- you would like to understand children’s behaviour and interactions more and adjust your responses to their needs;
- you want to see both the strengths of the child-educator interactions and the chances for improvement.
I was very curious to see the video recording. How nice to see their wonder, their open mouths and radiant eyes. Long live Tiktak (a typical Dutch game)! But I'm also very surprised. A little boy who spoke little Dutch and speaks a foreign language, pointed to an orange T-shirt while I asked ’What color is this?’ holding an orange fish in the air. Yes, now I see that he knows what colour it is! Super. He may not know the Dutch word yet, but he does know the concept. I feel that in my head I am adjusting my assessment of the toddler boy. A little further in the recording I see him also making swimming movements with the big fish. It moves me. The boy is a lively child and sometimes it is not easy to always look from the positive aspect but now I see so much potential.
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Research realisations and publications
Summary
VerBEELDing [Imagination]. Interaction in image, Interaction in conversation.
Toolbox
Outlines for Using Video Analysis and Video Coaching as a Tool for Professionalizing ECEC Workforce and Training Future ECEC Professionals. Tracks Output 2.
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