Instructional Rounds Improve The Quality Of Education
Teachers are under tremendous pressure. They often have to work under difficult, even dangerous conditions. They seldom have all the resources they need to do their jobs properly. They have to cope with very large classes and they often work in isolation. In addition, the fact that the entire educational system is under such tremendous pressure means that teacher seldom get the opportunity to attend seminars and training sessions. Instructional rounds, however, do create opportunities for professional development.
The concept is simple and straightforward. A small group of teachers, under the leadership of a senior colleague attend the class of another teacher that is deemed experienced and innovative. The observers do not take any part in the classroom activities. They are simply focused on observing and on making notes. No teacher is ever forced to agree to being observed or even to attend an observation session.
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.
There are those that say that these sessions are worthless, mainly because they are too informal and short. Some even say that teachers under observation do not perform as they would normally do, but that they make an extra effort simply to impress their colleagues. Supporters are adamant, however, that the system helps to improve educational quality and that teachers participating are benefiting from it.
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.
The concept is simple and straightforward. A small group of teachers, under the leadership of a senior colleague attend the class of another teacher that is deemed experienced and innovative. The observers do not take any part in the classroom activities. They are simply focused on observing and on making notes. No teacher is ever forced to agree to being observed or even to attend an observation session.
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.
There are those that say that these sessions are worthless, mainly because they are too informal and short. Some even say that teachers under observation do not perform as they would normally do, but that they make an extra effort simply to impress their colleagues. Supporters are adamant, however, that the system helps to improve educational quality and that teachers participating are benefiting from it.
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.
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