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.
The goal of instructional rounds is not to evaluate teachers in a formal manner. Its purpose is to allow small groups of observers to visit another teacher in class and to see how he or she teaches. In this way teachers can learn from each other. The observers do not provide formal feedback and they do not discuss their opinions with anyone other than the teacher concerned.
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.
It is important that observers have a debriefing session after a visit. During this discussion they have the opportunity to share their impressions with each other. They can also devise ways in which to incorporate new ideas and techniques in their own teaching. The discussions during these debriefing sessions are never shared with anyone outside the group. The host teacher can attend the session but they are not obliged to do so. If requested to do so the observers may present the host teacher with a report.
Educational experts agree that instructional rounds hold many benefits. It can play an important role in fostering better relationship between teachers from different schools. Because the focus is upon learning from each other, the general quality of education can only benefit. Host teachers often feel motivated by the feedback they receive from observers and it goes without saying that students can only benefit when their teachers uses new techniques and methods in the class.
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.
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.
The goal of instructional rounds is not to evaluate teachers in a formal manner. Its purpose is to allow small groups of observers to visit another teacher in class and to see how he or she teaches. In this way teachers can learn from each other. The observers do not provide formal feedback and they do not discuss their opinions with anyone other than the teacher concerned.
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.
It is important that observers have a debriefing session after a visit. During this discussion they have the opportunity to share their impressions with each other. They can also devise ways in which to incorporate new ideas and techniques in their own teaching. The discussions during these debriefing sessions are never shared with anyone outside the group. The host teacher can attend the session but they are not obliged to do so. If requested to do so the observers may present the host teacher with a report.
Educational experts agree that instructional rounds hold many benefits. It can play an important role in fostering better relationship between teachers from different schools. Because the focus is upon learning from each other, the general quality of education can only benefit. Host teachers often feel motivated by the feedback they receive from observers and it goes without saying that students can only benefit when their teachers uses new techniques and methods in the class.
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.
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.
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