Neal McDonald uses video observation as a critical friend

Neal McDonald is a 7th grade ESL teacher in Nashville, Tennessee. He’s also completing a Master’s in Education as part of Vanderbilt University’s Teaching and Learning in Urban Schools program.

Neal says that the feedback he’s received from coaches and peers who’ve observed his videos on Edthena has prompted him to adjust his practice in ways that have improved his instruction and increased student engagement.

He says that as he started using Edthena for the first time last year, the platform became his “critical friend” because of how well it’s allowed him to reflect on his teaching in the classroom.