The Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership (CIL) in Louisiana Tech’s College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS) is making strides in teacher education with SWIVL Technology by stepping into the world of artificial intelligence (AI).
Brian Lamb, Co-CEO and founder of SWIVL, visited Louisiana Tech to discuss a new development in technology to enhance teacher education.
“Teaching has always been a challenging profession, but today’s classroom demands even more from educators,” Lamb said. “Our goal is to support teachers, not replace them. Our tools provide real-time feedback and help them refine their classroom management skills while staying in the profession.”
The CIL Department has collaborated with SWIVL for more than a decade, using their tools that have been implemented both on campus and in partner school districts throughout the region. This next phase of the partnership introduces the M2 system, integrating AI to provide immediate and reflective feedback for future and current educators.
The M2 system allows educators to practice teaching, receive AI-driven insight, and apply feedback instantly in a classroom setting. This approach helps fast-track current teacher candidates’ skill development during their training.
Louisiana Tech has already seen the impact of SWIVL technology through earlier implementations. The original system expanded the CIL Department’s ability to conduct faculty evaluations and supervision across partner districts statewide, breaking down the barriers of campus and increasing access to high-quality feedback.
”This next phase will move from clinical evaluation to a continuous coaching process,” Amy Vessel, professor in the CIL Department and director of the Clinical Residency and Recruitment Center, said. “The ability for teacher candidates to reflect on their own teaching and receive immediate, meaningful feedback is powerful.”
The M2 system builds off of that foundation by shifting focus from evaluation to coaching. The technology allows teachers to engage in reflective dialogue about their lessons, identify areas for growth, and receive targeted feedback in a supportive environment.
“The human presence of a teacher is the essence of education,” Lamb said. “Our tools are designed to support teacher-led instruction by offering feedback, strategies, and insights that make educators more effective in the classroom.”
Looking ahead, the CIL Department plans to expand the use of SWIVL technology across its partner schools, including a pilot at A.E. Phillips Laboratory School on Louisiana Tech’s campus. They also plan to integrate the tools into their TEAM Model, making M2 a “virtual team member”.
“Our TEAM Model is not about replacing what we do, it’s about making it stronger,” Vessel said. “By combining innovative technology with human-centered teaching, we are transforming how we prepare the next generation of educators.”