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.
Instructional rounds are all about teachers learning from each other through observation. It is not meant as a method of formal evaluation and no report is ever submitted. The visiting observers do nothing but sit in the class of a host teacher and observe his or her techniques and methods. Feedback is only provided if it is requested by the host teacher. Even then feedback is given informally and in a constructive manner.
It is not difficult to organize an instructional round system. In most cases a small group of observer teachers are led by a respected and experienced senior teacher. The observers can even be from different schools. Observers never interfere in the instruction and they do not participate in any way. Students are simply told that there will be some people that want to learn from their own teacher.
In many cases maximum benefit can be derived from an instructional round by defining one or two objectives beforehand. Observers may focus, for example on issues related to the interaction between the teacher and the student, or on the use of visual aids during the lesson. The observers simply make notes and compare their personal experiences after the lesson.
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.
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.
When properly managed instructional rounds can play a very important role in helping teachers to increase their efficiency and innovation. There are many highly experienced teachers that can help others to be more effective. Of course, students can only benefit from motivated teachers that are willing to employ new techniques and methods.
Instructional rounds are all about teachers learning from each other through observation. It is not meant as a method of formal evaluation and no report is ever submitted. The visiting observers do nothing but sit in the class of a host teacher and observe his or her techniques and methods. Feedback is only provided if it is requested by the host teacher. Even then feedback is given informally and in a constructive manner.
It is not difficult to organize an instructional round system. In most cases a small group of observer teachers are led by a respected and experienced senior teacher. The observers can even be from different schools. Observers never interfere in the instruction and they do not participate in any way. Students are simply told that there will be some people that want to learn from their own teacher.
In many cases maximum benefit can be derived from an instructional round by defining one or two objectives beforehand. Observers may focus, for example on issues related to the interaction between the teacher and the student, or on the use of visual aids during the lesson. The observers simply make notes and compare their personal experiences after the lesson.
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.
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.
When properly managed instructional rounds can play a very important role in helping teachers to increase their efficiency and innovation. There are many highly experienced teachers that can help others to be more effective. Of course, students can only benefit from motivated teachers that are willing to employ new techniques and methods.
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