It has always been said that children and students are the future of mankind. Sooner or later those who have been at the work force the longest will retire and will be replaced. This is a cycle that has been going on for so long.
Just as it is important that the students learn, so is it with the teachers. Instructional School rounds is not a means to evaluate the instructors but a venue for them to discuss techniques, principles and their unique ways of instruction. This can be a school to district wide activity participated by many educators. This idea was taken from the method of medical rounds where doctors discuss the condition of patients among other medical professionals.
This is how this works. An group of three to five instructors go inside the class of another teacher to observe and take down notes. What they write depend on standard questions that answer the different aspects of class instruction. They do not grade or use a rubric for against their observations and they are merely just stating what they see.
The collaborative nature of this approach encourages educators to focus on one issue and have one goal. This is done so that every individual in the faculty will have the same picture and understanding of the matters that are significant to their local educational system. Like the quality of academic instruction inside classrooms, for example. The observational questions help identify which necessary parts of the teaching process needs to be addressed.
Individually, instructors are in the perfect avenue for introspection with regards to their methods. The observing panel are also able to evaluate and compare themselves with their colleagues in a systematic way that avoids any conflict among each other. Different processes of learning are being observed such as introduction to new topics, how well the class digests it, testing and knowledge evaluation. The group is then lead to discuss what they have seen as good and bad points.
The concept of instructional rounds does not limit within the school or institution. Some have practiced doing rounds among different schools within the district. This addresses different the education of a whole community and the quality of education being offered to them by the system.
This makes tracking the progress of students more quantifiable. Statistics and number can be gathered from the rounds and may prove useful in identifying what causes schools to perform excellently or otherwise. Once the data is gathered interpretations are more accurate. The numbers never lie.
This also helps in knowing what needs in facilities or concept that both the class and the instructors need. Whether it may be tools or a field of knowledge, it can be pinpointed easily since there is a third party not limited to the campus that gets to give feedback. This is the case in district wide rounds.
A certain issue is always the focus for each cycle. This is especially useful when there are difficulties that need to be solved. Since this method is an in depth observation of learning environments, pointing out causes to problems become more accurate. This gives the instructors and others who are concerned to create solutions that can properly address the issue without risking a huge backlash of consequences on the students.
Just as it is important that the students learn, so is it with the teachers. Instructional School rounds is not a means to evaluate the instructors but a venue for them to discuss techniques, principles and their unique ways of instruction. This can be a school to district wide activity participated by many educators. This idea was taken from the method of medical rounds where doctors discuss the condition of patients among other medical professionals.
This is how this works. An group of three to five instructors go inside the class of another teacher to observe and take down notes. What they write depend on standard questions that answer the different aspects of class instruction. They do not grade or use a rubric for against their observations and they are merely just stating what they see.
The collaborative nature of this approach encourages educators to focus on one issue and have one goal. This is done so that every individual in the faculty will have the same picture and understanding of the matters that are significant to their local educational system. Like the quality of academic instruction inside classrooms, for example. The observational questions help identify which necessary parts of the teaching process needs to be addressed.
Individually, instructors are in the perfect avenue for introspection with regards to their methods. The observing panel are also able to evaluate and compare themselves with their colleagues in a systematic way that avoids any conflict among each other. Different processes of learning are being observed such as introduction to new topics, how well the class digests it, testing and knowledge evaluation. The group is then lead to discuss what they have seen as good and bad points.
The concept of instructional rounds does not limit within the school or institution. Some have practiced doing rounds among different schools within the district. This addresses different the education of a whole community and the quality of education being offered to them by the system.
This makes tracking the progress of students more quantifiable. Statistics and number can be gathered from the rounds and may prove useful in identifying what causes schools to perform excellently or otherwise. Once the data is gathered interpretations are more accurate. The numbers never lie.
This also helps in knowing what needs in facilities or concept that both the class and the instructors need. Whether it may be tools or a field of knowledge, it can be pinpointed easily since there is a third party not limited to the campus that gets to give feedback. This is the case in district wide rounds.
A certain issue is always the focus for each cycle. This is especially useful when there are difficulties that need to be solved. Since this method is an in depth observation of learning environments, pointing out causes to problems become more accurate. This gives the instructors and others who are concerned to create solutions that can properly address the issue without risking a huge backlash of consequences on the students.
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To enhance teachers' pedagogical skills, it is imperative to implement instructional school rounds. To use these valuable tools, just read more about them at http://www.instructionalrounds.com.
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