How Instructional Rounds Help Teachers To Grow Professionally
by Daphne Bowen
Teachers often have to work under very difficult circumstances. They seldom get the chance to interact with colleagues and they often have to make do with very limited resources. Many teachers have to manage large classes and find it difficult to pay attention to the needs of every individual student. Many teachers complain that they do not get the chance to improve their skills and knowledge. <A href="http://www.instructionalrounds.com">Instructional rounds</A>, however, can do much to ease the situation somewhat.
The concept is a simple one, really. A small group of teachers attend the class of a highly experienced and respected teacher and observe how that teacher goes about his business. The observers are also led by a senior educator. Observers do not participate in the classroom activities but merely observe and make notes. No teacher is ever forced to either observe or to be observed.
The observing teachers normally meet prior to the observation session. They decide upon specific objectives in order to ensure that the session has some sort of focus. In many instances the objectives will coincide with known strong points of the teacher being observed. For example, if the teacher has a reputation for maintaining good discipline in the classroom the observing teacher may resolve to focus on the ways in which he manages to maintain discipline.
The main aim of observation sessions is to learn from the teacher under observation. These sessions have no element of evaluation attached to them because that will defeat the purpose of the session utterly. That is why only experienced teachers are asked to agree to be observed. The students are told about the session beforehand. The teacher under observation is not given any feedback but he may ask for such feedback.
After each observation session the observer teachers meet to discuss their experiences. This meeting is deemed to be confidential and no official report is ever submitted. The focus is on lessons learnt and not on criticizing the observed teacher in any way. The observers also share their ideas on how they will be implementing new ideas in their own classrooms. In this way innovation in the classroom can be achieved.
There are numerous benefits to be had in implementing a teacher observation system. Not only do teachers learn from experienced colleagues, but they also get to know each other better. The teachers are not the only ones to benefit. The students also benefit because they are the ones that will be receiving better instruction. In this way the entire educational system is improved and society as a whole benefits.
Such systems have critics too. They are of the opinion that observation sessions offer little or no value to the observers. They argue that teachers being observed prepare specially for these sessions and that they defeat the object of the exercise in this manner. Many teachers and educational authorities disagree. They are satisfied that teacher observation sessions are beneficial to all concerned.
Learning from experienced and well respected colleagues is as old as mankind itself. After all, that is where the apprentice system originated. Teachers willing to share their experience and teachers willing to learn from them can only help to improve the overall quality of education. That alone should be enough to keep motivating those that believe in teacher observation sessions.
<a href="http://www.instructionalrounds.com">Read more about</a> How Instructional Rounds Help Teachers To Grow Professionally.
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New Unique Article!
Title: How Instructional Rounds Help Teachers To Grow Professionally
Author: Daphne Bowen
Email: nathanwebster335@live.com
Keywords: medicine, health, treatment, healthy
Word Count: 557
Category: Medicine
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