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Instructional Coaching

The Impact Cycle

Establish instructional coaching cycles that strengthen teaching and improve outcomes for students.

Improving classroom practice is at the heart of instructional coaching, and doing it well requires more than good intentions.

It requires a clear process, a principled approach to working with teachers and a deep understanding of what drives meaningful change.

The Impact Cycle provides all three.

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About

Designed around the key themes of Dr Jim Knight’s book The Impact Cycle: What Instructional Coaches Should Do to Foster Powerful Improvements in Teaching, this course equips educators with a structured, research-informed approach to instructional coaching. It is designed for anyone who works alongside teachers to develop their practice, and gives educational leaders a model of instructional leadership that keeps teacher agency at the centre.

Participants explore the Partnership Principles that underpin productive coaching relationships, learn how to identify meaningful goals with teachers, and develop the skills to explain, model and support the implementation of high-impact teaching strategies.

Participants will explore the following questions:

  1. What are the Partnership Principles and should I ground my coaching in them?
  2. What should be my approach to coaching?
  3. How do instructional coaches identify goals with teachers?
  4. How should instructional coaches go about explaining and modelling teaching strategies?
  5. How do coaches partner with teachers to make adaptations until goals are met?

Based on the book

Delivered in partnership with

This is an Instructional Coaching Group (ICG) course developed by Dr Jim Knight and delivered by GCI under license.

What you will gain

  • A clear, research-informed cycle for establishing and sustaining instructional coaching that leads to real improvements in teaching and student learning

  • The principles and skills to build productive, trust-based partnerships with teachers

  • Practical approaches to identifying goals, sharing expertise and supporting teachers through change

  • A model of instructional leadership that develops teacher agency and commitment

Structure

  1. Session 1

    Introducing The Impact Cycle; exploring the complexities of helping & the Partnership Principles.

  2. Session 2

    Approaches to coaching; the Identify phase, reality & goal-setting.

  3. Session 3

    The Identify phase, more on the use of video and other ‘data’ sources.

  4. Session 4

    The Learn phase, introducing checklists, Instructional Playbooks and types of modelling.

  5. Session 5

    The Improve phase, reviewing, making adaptations and planning next steps.

  6. Session 6

    Pulling it all together, enrolment strategies; evaluating coaching; implementation.

Learning design

Research-informed, Practitioner-focused is an important principle that underpins all our work at GCI, and this course is no exception.

The Impact Cycle instructional coaching course is the culmination of more than two decades of research on instructional coaching, communication and professional development by Dr Jim Knight and colleagues at The University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning

A Learning Design to Enable Praxis

When we are engaged in praxis we are reflecting in action, taking what we are learning and applying it in real-life situations. Our in-person and online courses enable praxis through a ‘coaching approach’ to facilitation combined with a range of thoughtfully designed adult learning experiences including:

  • individual and group reflection activities

  • co-operative learning tasks

  • practice opportunities using real workplace scenarios

  • modelling

  • observation and feedback

  • debrief sessions

Flexible Modes of Delivery

The Impact Cycle course is available in a range of delivery patterns:

  • Two full days (in-person)
  • Full days or six 2-hour workshops spread over a number of weeks (in-house groups online only)

From participants on this course

What participants say

would recommend this course

rated the course content Very Good or Excellent

Where participants plan to use their learning

Improve professional practice and colleagues’ practice83.8%

Develop leadership ability and support others83.7%

Enhance student achievement and wellbeing76.1%

Based on GCI The Impact Cycle post-course surveys, 2024 to 2026. Percentages reflect valid responses to each question; multiple selections were allowed where applicable.

In their words

  • “Thank you Edna for sharing your expertise I appreciate it so much and feel like I am ready to be a better leader and teacher!”

    Selin KasifMentor & Science Learning Area Leader, Melton Secondary College, VIC

  • “I wanted to take a moment to express my deep gratitude for the incredible impact cycle coaching course that you led. The tools and techniques that you taught us have had a tremendous impact on me and my team, and I am so grateful for your guidance. Since taking the course, we have been able to approach our work with a newfound sense of clarity and purpose. The strategies you shared with us have allowed us to tackle even the most complex challenges with confidence and skill, and the results have been truly impressive. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us and for inspiring us to be the best that we can be. Your coaching has made a lasting impact on our team, and we are all better for it.”

    Matthew CatoCatholic Schools Office Diocese of Lismore, NSW

  • “I have a much clearer idea on how to implement the impact cycle in my school. I especially found the coaching opportunities and Growth questions very useful.”

    Holly GraltonHoly Family Primary School Mereweather Beach, NSW

    “Thank you, I feel empowered to take action with the new skills I have developed during my time in the sessions.”

    Danielle BarryHoly Spirit Primary School Kurri Kurri, NSW

    “Thank you so much for an amazing 2 days. Thank you for your care and authenticity. I have learnt so much and feel much more confident as a leader and to begin engaging in the coaching process with my peers.”

    Sanja IveticRiver Gum Primary School, VIC

  • “Thank-you Lucy. This has been very engaging and thought provoking for my own practice and the practice of my colleagues. Very well executed.”

    Katherine WhyteRiver Gum Primary School, VIC

Our facilitators

As a coaching organisation, we endeavour to model a ‘coaching way of being’ in our interactions with our clients by being:

  • Respectful
  • Humble
  • Curious
  • Strengths-focused
  • Reflective

We encourage a culture of high expectations through our commitment to the ongoing development of our people based on mutual respect and collaboration. Our consultants are expert coach practitioners who draw on a wealth of educational experience to provide the highest level of service as coaches and trainers.

Meet the GCI team

Certification

A GCI Certificate is issued to each individual completing this course.

Fees and what is included

This price is for an individual registering on an open-enrolment course.

Savings are available for organisations who wish to run this course for an in-house group.

Please email info@growthcoaching.com.au to request a quote or discuss this further.

Your fee includes

  • 2-Day Workshop
  • Complimentary The Impact Cycle book
  • Complimentary The Impact Cycle Reflective Guide book

Dates and pricing

Australian prices exclude GST.

  • Melbourne10 to 11 November 2026In session
  • Perth12 to 13 November 2026Waitlist
  • Bangkok22 to 23 January 20272 x 1 day workshopRegister
  • Melbourne3 to 4 March 20272 x 1 day workshopRegister
  • Perth11 to 12 March 20272 x 1 day workshopRegister
  • Brisbane13 to 14 May 20272 x 1 day workshopRegister
  • Adelaide24 to 25 May 20272 x 1 day workshopRegister
  • Perth3 to 4 June 20272 x 1 day workshopRegister
  • Perth9 to 10 September 20272 x 1 day workshopRegister
  • Perth11 to 12 November 20272 x 1 day workshopRegister

Running this course for your own group

Ask about The Impact Cycle in-house

Register your interest

If you would like to explore offering this course to your own group, or would like to be notified when new dates are announced, please complete the form below. A member of the GCI team will be in touch.

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