One would think that teaching is a very social job but it is not the case. Most teachers are isolated and rarely get the chance to interact with their colleagues on a professional level. They have to do the best that they can with limited resources and their work load is such that they do not often have the chance to attend courses in order to improve themselves professionally. Many teachers agree, however, that instructional rounds help them to learn from other teaching professionals.
Implementing this system is very simple. A smaller group of teachers, led by senior colleague, attends the class of an experienced teacher. The purpose of this is for the observer teachers to learn from their more experienced colleague. They do not participate in any classroom activities. The system is voluntary. No teacher is ever pressurized to be an observer or to agree to be the teacher that is observed by others.
Although the sessions are not rigorously structured, observers still meet before attending a session. In this meeting they agree on specific goals and the classroom activities that they want to focus on. Teachers being observed are often known for a particular talent or skill and observers will typically focus on that talent or skill during the observation session, hoping to develop similar talents and skills.
Observation sessions do no have an element of evaluation and the purpose is certainly not to judge the abilities of the teacher being observed. That is one reason why only experienced teachers are observed. The sole purpose is to learn from the teacher under observation. Observers do not even provide feedback unless the observed teacher asks for it. The purpose of the sessions is also explained to learners ahead of time.
Although no feedback is given to the observed teacher, observers nevertheless meet after each session. During this meeting they share the lessons they have learned and the ideas that they developed from observing a colleague. These meetings are deemed to be highly confidential and no report is prepared. Observers are not allowed to criticize the teacher that was observed in action.
Observation sessions have become widespread and now even include the observation of respected teachers at other schools and colleges. Most participants report that they benefit from these sessions. Of course, when they benefit, their schools and the learners also benefit and in this way the quality of education is raised. Teachers under observation also benefit because they are being acknowledged as experienced and talented.
Critics of the system say that these sessions are a waste of time because they are too short and too informal. Many critics also say that teachers under observation make a special effort to impress their colleagues and that observers never see them as they truly are in the classroom. The system nevertheless remains very popular with teachers who feel that any opportunity to learn should be grabbed with both hands.
A solid, reliable educational system is one of the main cornerstones of any healthy society. As with every other profession, there are more experienced and less experienced teachers. Learning from the more experienced teachers makes simple sense. Observation sessions are easy to organize and it seems as if teachers benefit.
Implementing this system is very simple. A smaller group of teachers, led by senior colleague, attends the class of an experienced teacher. The purpose of this is for the observer teachers to learn from their more experienced colleague. They do not participate in any classroom activities. The system is voluntary. No teacher is ever pressurized to be an observer or to agree to be the teacher that is observed by others.
Although the sessions are not rigorously structured, observers still meet before attending a session. In this meeting they agree on specific goals and the classroom activities that they want to focus on. Teachers being observed are often known for a particular talent or skill and observers will typically focus on that talent or skill during the observation session, hoping to develop similar talents and skills.
Observation sessions do no have an element of evaluation and the purpose is certainly not to judge the abilities of the teacher being observed. That is one reason why only experienced teachers are observed. The sole purpose is to learn from the teacher under observation. Observers do not even provide feedback unless the observed teacher asks for it. The purpose of the sessions is also explained to learners ahead of time.
Although no feedback is given to the observed teacher, observers nevertheless meet after each session. During this meeting they share the lessons they have learned and the ideas that they developed from observing a colleague. These meetings are deemed to be highly confidential and no report is prepared. Observers are not allowed to criticize the teacher that was observed in action.
Observation sessions have become widespread and now even include the observation of respected teachers at other schools and colleges. Most participants report that they benefit from these sessions. Of course, when they benefit, their schools and the learners also benefit and in this way the quality of education is raised. Teachers under observation also benefit because they are being acknowledged as experienced and talented.
Critics of the system say that these sessions are a waste of time because they are too short and too informal. Many critics also say that teachers under observation make a special effort to impress their colleagues and that observers never see them as they truly are in the classroom. The system nevertheless remains very popular with teachers who feel that any opportunity to learn should be grabbed with both hands.
A solid, reliable educational system is one of the main cornerstones of any healthy society. As with every other profession, there are more experienced and less experienced teachers. Learning from the more experienced teachers makes simple sense. Observation sessions are easy to organize and it seems as if teachers benefit.
About the Author:
If you are searching for the facts about instructional rounds, pay a visit to the web pages online here today. More details are available at http://www.instructionalrounds.com now.
No comments:
Post a Comment