Teachers have many responsibilities and they often have to perform their jobs in isolation. They are seldom thanked for the many sacrifices that they make on behalf of their students. Few teachers have the opportunity to attend courses because their jobs require them to be involved in their teaching activities all the time. Yet teachers can learn a lot from each other and that is why classroom walkthroughs have become so popular lately.
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.
Setting up a system of instructional rounds is simple and straight forward. Small groups of observers, often from different schools visit another teacher in class. The students are informed that there will be visitors and they are advised that the visitors are there to learn. Observers typically attend classes for fifteen minutes only and they never take part in the teaching activities.
In order to gain maximum benefit from an instructional round it is necessary to set one or two very specific goals. Rather than observing in a general manner attention is paid to specific aspects such as the use of teaching aids or the way in which the teacher gets the students to interact with the subject matter. Observers discuss their impressions with each other after the visit.
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.
Most education experts are in agreement that instructional rounds are beneficial to the educational system as a whole. Teachers learn from each other and relations between different schools are improved. Students also benefit because their teachers are often exposed to new ideas and methods. Host teachers are motivated by positive feedback and this can play an important role in building morale and in teachers making additional efforts to improve.
It is true that an instructional rounds system can cause harm. In most cases harm can be caused if the central principles of the system are not observed. Host teachers are not to be formally evaluated and they may never be criticized. Evaluation should be part of the formal policies of the local educational authorities and not part of a mutual learning exercise.
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.
Setting up a system of instructional rounds is simple and straight forward. Small groups of observers, often from different schools visit another teacher in class. The students are informed that there will be visitors and they are advised that the visitors are there to learn. Observers typically attend classes for fifteen minutes only and they never take part in the teaching activities.
In order to gain maximum benefit from an instructional round it is necessary to set one or two very specific goals. Rather than observing in a general manner attention is paid to specific aspects such as the use of teaching aids or the way in which the teacher gets the students to interact with the subject matter. Observers discuss their impressions with each other after the visit.
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.
Most education experts are in agreement that instructional rounds are beneficial to the educational system as a whole. Teachers learn from each other and relations between different schools are improved. Students also benefit because their teachers are often exposed to new ideas and methods. Host teachers are motivated by positive feedback and this can play an important role in building morale and in teachers making additional efforts to improve.
It is true that an instructional rounds system can cause harm. In most cases harm can be caused if the central principles of the system are not observed. Host teachers are not to be formally evaluated and they may never be criticized. Evaluation should be part of the formal policies of the local educational authorities and not part of a mutual learning exercise.
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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