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.
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:
- What are the Partnership Principles and should I ground my coaching in them?
- What should be my approach to coaching?
- How do instructional coaches identify goals with teachers?
- How should instructional coaches go about explaining and modelling teaching strategies?
- 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
Session 1
Introducing The Impact Cycle; exploring the complexities of helping & the Partnership Principles.
Session 2
Approaches to coaching; the Identify phase, reality & goal-setting.
Session 3
The Identify phase, more on the use of video and other ‘data’ sources.
Session 4
The Learn phase, introducing checklists, Instructional Playbooks and types of modelling.
Session 5
The Improve phase, reviewing, making adaptations and planning next steps.
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
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.
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
- 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
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.
