Chapter 3. Changing instruction through
Visual Teacher Learning
Abstract
This chapter provides an up-to-date systematic review
of the research literature since 2000, focussing on the
effects of Visual Teacher Learning on teachers’
behaviour in interaction with learners and content.
After an account of the selection criteria and analysis
methods used, six types of outcomes of Visual Teacher
Learning are distinguished: teachers sequence lesson
content and learning activities more carefully; they
change their classroom discourse in ways enabling
them to diagnose and respond to pupil learning
better; they improve their instructional routines and
classroom management; they engage more in two-
way communication with pupils, show more sensitivity
towards them and stimulate them more. Also, the
sustainability of these outcomes over time, differences
depending on career phase and individual differences
are addressed. Then, the impact of these changes in
instruction on pupil learning is identified: as teachers
activate and engage pupils more, they achieve
improvements in pupils’ classroom behaviour.
This review clarifies that three processes of teacher
learning are responsible for the above outcomes:
engaging in repeated activity cycles, cooperation and
dialogue with colleagues, and making classroom
interaction visible. Finally, supportive and obstructive
conditions on the level of school organisation are
identified.
The main conclusion is that digital video is a medium
especially suitable for raising the quality of teaching
and learning.