It is a sad fact that many teachers have to perform their many responsibilities in isolation. They mostly interact with their students and they seldom receive objective feedback from other professionals. Classroom walkthroughs have changed all this. It allows teachers to receive advice from their peers. Best of all, this advice is non judgmental and its sole purpose is to benefit the teacher concerned.
It is not the aim of instructional rounds to evaluate teachers in a formal manner. It aims at providing teachers with the opportunity to interact with peers and to learn from each other. The visiting teacher observes the methods of the local teacher and they compare notes after the visit. No formal feedback is expected or given unless it is requested. The visit is normally discussed in an informal way and the purpose is purely to compare notes.
It is not difficult to organize an instructional round system. In most cases a small group of observer teachers are led by a respected and experienced senior teacher. The observers can even be from different schools. Observers never interfere in the instruction and they do not participate in any way. Students are simply told that there will be some people that want to learn from their own teacher.
In order to gain full benefit from an observation session it may be best to focus on one or two aspects of teaching only. Observers may, for example, concentrate on the way in which the host teacher communicate with the students or the manner in which he uses his teaching aids and other visual media. Observation sessions seldom last more than a quarter of an hour.
The debriefing after an observation session is important. Observers can learn even more by sharing their experiences and by discussing the techniques and methods employed by the host teacher. These discussions are not shared outside the group of observers. Part of the discussions should be on how to incorporate new ideas in their own classes. The host teacher can choose whether he or she wants to be part of the debrief session.
Educational managers agree that instructional rounds can play a very important role in improving the quality of education. Teachers not only learn from each other but they are also motivated when observers acknowledge their innovation. Instructional rounds also play an important role in improving relations between different schools. It goes without saying that student benefit when their teachers try new methods.
There is a danger that instructional rounds can actually cause harm rather than good. If the focus is not upon objective observation and a willingness to learn from each other the system is almost certain to fail. Harm can also result from breach of confidentiality and from interference by observers. The system should never be treated as a form of formal evaluation.
Instructional rounds can play a vital role in helping to improve the quality of education. Teachers with years of valuable experience often do not get the opportunity to share their expertise with others. In the same vein, teachers with less experience are seldom exposed to the methods and techniques employed by senior educators. By learning from each other and by building relationships teachers can make a difference to the classroom experience.
It is not the aim of instructional rounds to evaluate teachers in a formal manner. It aims at providing teachers with the opportunity to interact with peers and to learn from each other. The visiting teacher observes the methods of the local teacher and they compare notes after the visit. No formal feedback is expected or given unless it is requested. The visit is normally discussed in an informal way and the purpose is purely to compare notes.
It is not difficult to organize an instructional round system. In most cases a small group of observer teachers are led by a respected and experienced senior teacher. The observers can even be from different schools. Observers never interfere in the instruction and they do not participate in any way. Students are simply told that there will be some people that want to learn from their own teacher.
In order to gain full benefit from an observation session it may be best to focus on one or two aspects of teaching only. Observers may, for example, concentrate on the way in which the host teacher communicate with the students or the manner in which he uses his teaching aids and other visual media. Observation sessions seldom last more than a quarter of an hour.
The debriefing after an observation session is important. Observers can learn even more by sharing their experiences and by discussing the techniques and methods employed by the host teacher. These discussions are not shared outside the group of observers. Part of the discussions should be on how to incorporate new ideas in their own classes. The host teacher can choose whether he or she wants to be part of the debrief session.
Educational managers agree that instructional rounds can play a very important role in improving the quality of education. Teachers not only learn from each other but they are also motivated when observers acknowledge their innovation. Instructional rounds also play an important role in improving relations between different schools. It goes without saying that student benefit when their teachers try new methods.
There is a danger that instructional rounds can actually cause harm rather than good. If the focus is not upon objective observation and a willingness to learn from each other the system is almost certain to fail. Harm can also result from breach of confidentiality and from interference by observers. The system should never be treated as a form of formal evaluation.
Instructional rounds can play a vital role in helping to improve the quality of education. Teachers with years of valuable experience often do not get the opportunity to share their expertise with others. In the same vein, teachers with less experience are seldom exposed to the methods and techniques employed by senior educators. By learning from each other and by building relationships teachers can make a difference to the classroom experience.
About the Author:
Read more about How Classroom Walkthroughs Help To Improve The Quality Of Education.