EarlyEdU Approach
EarlyEdU Tools
As a member of the EarlyEdU Alliance you have access to the tools and resources we use in our courses.
Coaching Companion ™
Reinforcing the Intentional Teaching Framework and the features of EarlyEdU courses is the Coaching Companion ™, a web-based video annotation learning tool that supports video observation and analysis and coach-quality feedback in higher education by enabling students to view and refine their teaching practices. The tool is integrated throughout EarlyEdU courses.
With the Coaching Companion, students see classroom interactions on video and then reflect on the degree to which they incorporate evidence-based practices. Coaching Companion eliminates the traditional separation of theory and practice in college-based teacher preparation. While education students typically waited until they completed coursework to experience teaching in real settings—often waiting until their final quarter in school—practice is now part of EarlyEdU courses from the outset.
Together, the Intentional Teaching Framework and the Coaching Companion transform you into a job-embedded coach. You watch participants interact with children on video using the Coaching Companion and look specifically for interactions defined in the course assignments, readings, and lectures. Based on these observations, you offer feedback and propose next steps. Coaching Companion is an effective tool to use to support learning how to provide coach-quality feedback in the context of Communities of Reflective Practice (CORP).
Keep in mind that with Coaching Companion and EarlyEdU resources, it is the responsibility of instructors to use all materials in a FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) compliant manner.
Access Coaching Companion
Online EarlyEdU courses have Coaching Companion integrated into the LMS. The assignments are already setup to allow participants to upload and/or comment on video in Coaching Companion. Instructors can view the submissions through Canvas SpeedGrader.
If you would like to use Coaching Companion with your own coursework outside of EarlyEdU Courses, you will need to send an email and request Coaching Companion Access.
Support Resources
Using Coaching Companion with your courses requires a little bit of training to get accustomed to the interface. Here are additional resources you can use:
Media Library
The EarlyEdU Media Library is an extensive set of videos and images from a variety of early learning settings. The media library is ever-growing and features:
- Over 2,200 captioned videos of evidence-based teaching practices, interview, and lectures
- Observation-length videos in 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes in length
- Dual language strategy with Spanish language videos with captions in Somali, Spanish, and English
- Full episodes and clips from all 3 seasons of Circle Time Magazine™
Content from the Media Library can be downloaded, embedded into your LMS, and streamed for use in courses, presentations, and professional development activities.
If you have already created an account for the Media Library you’re all set to login, otherwise you may have to register for a new account.