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 really easy to set up a schedule for instructional rounds. In most cases there is a small group of observers and they are led by an experienced and respected teacher. The observers do not take part in the class activities. The students are told in advance that the observers are there to learn from their teacher. This type of support and interaction can even be done between different schools.
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.
Great care should be taken to make sure that an instructional rounds system does not cause harm. This is certainly possible if any teacher is forced to participate or if observers discuss their opinions with outsiders. If the system is seen as a formal form of evaluation it will not achieve the benefits that can be gained. Teachers under observations should never be criticized.
There can be no doubt that everyone involved in the education system, including the learners, can benefit from instructional rounds. This is especially the case when innovative and experienced teachers are willing to be observed by less experienced educators. Nobody is ever too old or too experienced to learn from another.
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 really easy to set up a schedule for instructional rounds. In most cases there is a small group of observers and they are led by an experienced and respected teacher. The observers do not take part in the class activities. The students are told in advance that the observers are there to learn from their teacher. This type of support and interaction can even be done between different schools.
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.
Great care should be taken to make sure that an instructional rounds system does not cause harm. This is certainly possible if any teacher is forced to participate or if observers discuss their opinions with outsiders. If the system is seen as a formal form of evaluation it will not achieve the benefits that can be gained. Teachers under observations should never be criticized.
There can be no doubt that everyone involved in the education system, including the learners, can benefit from instructional rounds. This is especially the case when innovative and experienced teachers are willing to be observed by less experienced educators. Nobody is ever too old or too experienced to learn from another.
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