PD is not one size fits all

In supporting your educators with high-quality professional development tools and strategies, you’ve already experienced how to analyze teaching practice through video with Swivl Robot. But research shows there’s more to professional growth than just capturing classroom moments. A comprehensive review of 35 studies found that the most effective professional development programs consistently include several critical elements: structured reflection time based on content-specific strategies and expert feedback on authentic teaching practices. That’s exactly where M2 + MirrorTalk takes your professional development program to the next level.

Professional development will never be one size fits all with M2

In today’s educational environment, finding time for reflection can seem impossible. Packed schedules, endless testing, and increasing student and administrative demands, squeeze out the very practice research shows is essential for professional growth and job satisfaction. Teachers who engage in regular, guided reflection show significant improvements not only in their instructional effectiveness but also in student outcomes. Perhaps most importantly, the intentionality of regular reflection can alleviate stress and the feelings of burnout that cause many teachers to depart the classroom prematurely. 

1. Support teachers daily, while minimizing classroom disruptions 

Research confirms that effective professional development leverages feedback on authentic instances of teacher practice, including video recordings and teacher reflections. M2’s high-quality video and audio capture takes everything you love about Robot and enhances it with:

• Built-in observations that document real classroom interactions and evidence of student learning
• Daily, supportive feedback on teacher instruction, which takes account of student actions and behaviors
• Dashboard collecting insights on daily instruction and whole class summaries, establishing patterns and trends for further analysis

M2’s embedded MirrorTalk software amplifies daily observation by:

• Creating clear documentation of standards alignment, glows, and grows
• Generating custom reflection prompts for teachers aligned with your professional goals
• Providing immediate feedback to teachers after reflecting on classroom experiences

2. Track content-specific interventions holistically and universally 

A comprehensive study on effective science professional development found that teachers who participated in content-specific, classroom-based professional development saw significantly higher student learning gains compared to those who received general training alone. M2 + MirrorTalk brings this research-backed approach to life by creating a comprehensive system for tracking both student content mastery and analysis of content-specific interventions in every subject area.

• Capture student content knowledge:
  • Document students’ prior knowledge through pre-learning reflections
  • Assess students with interactive assignment tools on M2 (whiteboard, polls, assessment questions)
  • Collect insights on understanding across your subject area’s key concepts
• Enhance content-based instruction:
  • Use real-time student reflection data to identify knowledge gaps in individuals and across groups
  • Adapt teaching strategies based on student responses
  • Monitor the effectiveness of content-specific interventions
• Collect evidence of growth to share at PLCs:
  • Measure progress in subject-specific competencies
  • Gather data on student mindset and engagement with content
  • Create instant portfolios demonstrating mastery of key concepts

Throughout the application of a content-specific intervention strategy, teachers utilize MirrorTalk alongside their students in three stages:

• Before the intervention: Teachers reflect on their teaching practices and student understanding
• During the intervention: Teachers examine the efficacy of their teaching adaptations
• After the intervention: Teachers evaluate the overall impact on student achievement

Incorporation of both teacher and student reflection data gives PD facilitators a more universal view of content-specific intervention efficacy.

3. Build teaching excellence while building community

Research demonstrates that effective professional development programs create rich learning environments by leveraging positive and constructive feedback in multiple contexts – from coaching sessions to group workshops. M2 + MirrorTalk makes this possible by:

• Facilitating structured reflection in various professional settings
• Supporting both individual and collaborative learning opportunities with M2
• Providing data-driven insights to PD facilitators to guide professional learning sessions

Check the mirror – does your PD program need a makeover?

To recap the value of the assets at your fingertips, M2 is:

• Every teacher’s AI teaching companion 
• A professional recording system when you need video for observation
• A small group leader infused with interactive tools (whiteboard, polls, assessments) to support content mastery and student engagement

And MirrorTalk offers:

• Customized reflection experiences that align with professional development goals
• Real-time analysis of content-specific interventions
• Comprehensive dashboard tracking of individual and group progress
• Seamless integration with PLCs and coaching workflows

Together, and empowered by the support of our expertise of our Customer Success team, this reflection system provides the ultimate weapon against arbitrary, too late-to-count professional development in your program. We’ve helped thousands of educators like you transition from video observations with Robot alone to M2, unlocking new levels of professional growth supported by research-proven practices. Let us show you how to:

• Upgrade your recording workflow
• Integrate reflection practices that align with your standards
• Scale successful strategies across your teaching community

Contact our Customer Success Team today to schedule your M2 + MirrorTalk optimization session. Together, we’ll build on your Robot experience to create transformative professional growth opportunities proven to drive results.