Proponents of evaluation systems that include high - quality
classroom observations point to their potential value for improving instruction (see «Capturing the Dimensions of Effective Teaching,» Features, Fall 2o12).
Not exact matches
«The first 60
points are by the local district on
classroom observations, feedback,» Bennett said.
Under the larger evaluation framework, announced in Albany Thursday afternoon, teachers will be graded on a 100 -
point scale, 60 percent of which will be based on evaluations of teacher performance, including
classroom observations.
This last
point is pertinent given the fact that we found that only 10 per cent of participants in our course had any training of any sort in
classroom observation.
Under IMPACT, all teachers receive a single score ranging from 100 to 400
points at the end of each school year based on
classroom observations, measures of student learning, and commitment to the school community.
The authors
point out that the Cincinnati system of evaluation is different from the standard practice in place in most American school districts, where perfunctory evaluations assign the vast majority of teachers «satisfactory» ratings, leading many to «characterize
classroom observation as a hopelessly flawed approach to assessing teacher effectiveness.»
The larger
point here, however, and the bigger problem for those trying to weaken the union grip on the process, is that both the «locally selected» 20 % and the remaining 60 % (
classroom observation and professional growth), as Lynch concludes, «must necessarily be determined through negotiations» with the union.
Here's what this approach looks like: Administrators make frequent short, unannounced
classrooms visits (at least once a month), followed promptly by face - to - face listening / coaching conversations; teacher teams meet regularly to discuss planning, pedagogy, and assessment results; and teacher assessment is saved till the end of the school year, pulling together
observations, other
points of contact, and teachers» self - assessments.
This is also the
point at which teachers were given autonomy in the
classroom as there was no longer a need for «
observations».
And we have found that school and district leaders in their
classroom observations often do not notice the critical connection between standards and teaching
point.
And in all 8 models the
point estimates suggest that a standard deviation improvement in
classroom observation or student survey results is associated with less than a.1 standard deviation increase in test score gains.
Designed to highlight local proof
points, EduTours couple a presentation of research on the designated topic with a school visit that includes conversation with school leadership,
classroom observations, and insights from experts in the field.
They then use as an example the 0.044 (p < 0.05) coefficient (as related to more
classroom observations with explicit feedback tied to the Common Core) and explain that «a difference of one standard deviation in the
observation and feedback index was associated with an increase of 0.044 standard deviations in students» mathematics test scores — roughly the equivalent of 1.4 scale score
points on the PARCC assessment and 4.1 scale score
points on the SBAC.»
Under this system, teachers are evaluated on a four -
point scale based on multiple measures that include
classroom observations, content standards, and assessments of student growth.
Teachers in NYC fear
classroom observations are not being used to help them grow professionally, but instead teachers must teach to try to score
points on Ms. Danielson's often misused framework.
The state also simplified the rubric for
classroom observations, reducing the number of
points principals track in
observations and cutting one rating level for teachers, creating four options from «ineffective,» to «highly effective.»
Numbers from the largest available database of
classroom observations, and the striking conclusions experts draw from more than 2 million data
points
Data analyzed by Learning Sciences International researchers — more than 2 million data
points related to
classroom strategies collected from teacher
observations — indicates that teachers are spending so little
classroom time on activities associated with cognitively complex lessons that it will be very difficult for students to succeed on the new assessments.
As DeWitt
points out,
observations can help school leaders stay connected to the
classroom and provide teachers with a really valuable outside perspective.
Downer and his team
point out that while many studies have
pointed to increased levels of engagement and learning related to teacher - student racial and ethnic match, notably,» no studies of ethnic match / mismatch effects in preschoolers have examined academic achievement outcomes,» and most of the work done in this area has been based on interviews with teachers or
classroom observations, Downer said.
Important
points to consider regarding frameworks for
classroom observations include the following:
TU Director of Communications Mary Moser provides a detailed starting
point for creating and utilizing a digital
classroom observation tool in order to answer the question «How do you make systematic change without basing your work on vague notions and «we think» statements?»
From afar, they see their principals in action, but unless that principal is willing or able to engage them in the long discussions about school leadership, chances are they are only learning through
observation and from the vantage
point of their
classrooms.