Feedback is a crucial component of teacher professional development. Classroom observations are a standard approach for assessing and improving a teacher’s instructional and classroom-management skills. The observations, whether unannounced or scheduled, typically involve an administrator physically sitting in a classroom and taking notes about a teacher’s performance for later discussion. That process can take days and the administrator’s presence can be distracting. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

With today’s available technology, feedback can be instantaneous. With common mobile technology, administrators can observe a class from anywhere, offer live feedback, and record sessions for follow-up coaching. That’s an approach we tried at Pinecrest Academy Horizon, and the difference was like night and day. Consider these three tips for successful remote observations.