themselves on a form I provided them. Once this was done, I evaluated them
on the same form. We then sat together and through open and honest
discussion produced an accurate and helpful evaluation. If the teachers
feel that they have a say in their own progress as professionals, the
experience of being evaluated is much more productive.
Frank Giuseffi
Dean of Academics
Missouri Military Academy
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators
[mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Peter Gow
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 8:43 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: REPLY: classroom observation forms
Classroom observation can be pretty tricky, and to be done well I
think that reducing the complex observation-feedback-(evaluation)
process to a standardized sheet or two might be a little too simple.
I'm of a mind that the reason that many (most?) teachers are so
skittish about classroom observation is that it is often done so
clumsily, with poor or random feedback almost always providing
"evaluation" in both intended and unintended ways. This is exceedingly
unhelpful to the goal of promoting both better teaching and a culture
of professional openness and collaboration.
Steve Clem of the Association of Independent Schools of New England
(www.aisne.org) does a great workshop on classroom observation
("Eloquent Mirrors"), and he can provide tremendous wisdom on how
observation and the even more critical process of giving feedback on
observation can be done well. Steve also recommends some great
materials from Research for Better Teaching (www.rbteach.com).
All of this is to say that observation done well can be an
extraordinary thing for teachers and schools, and I urge all schools
to do this as mindfully and thoroughly as possible. Observation forms
can be helpful, I am sure, but they need to live in a rich and
professional context based on real goals and, of course, each school's
articulated standards for effective teaching.
And we all have those published standards for effective teaching, don't we?
Cheers--Peter Gow
On 7/14/09, A forum for independent school educators
<ISED-L@listserv.syr.edu> wrote:
> In Reply to :
> Do any of your schools use a good form for classroom evaluation that you
> would be willing to share?
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Some Classroom Observation materials at
>
> http://www.shambles.net/pages/staff/classroom/
>
> Hope helpful
>
> Chris
>
> Shambles listed in top ten websites by (UK)
> Teachers TV http://www.teachers.tv/video/4946
>
> Second Life: Shamblesguru Voom
> Twitter: shamblesguru Skype: cthsmith
> ePortfolio www.shambles.net/csmith
> w-shops www.shambles.net/csmith/workshops
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> Chris Smith : email: csmith@csmith.info
> Personal Learning Network: www.shambles.net/csmith/pln
> Based in Thailand, working across S.E.Asia
> The Education Project Asia www.shambles.net
> Support for ICT across the Curriculum (consultancy)
> 'It's out there somewhere, the trick is finding it'
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> International Schools Island in Second Life
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> -----------------------------------------------------------
>
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>
--
Peter Gow
Director of College Counseling and Special Programs
Beaver Country Day School
791 Hammond Street
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467
www.bcdschool.org
617-738-2755 (O)
617-738-2747 (F)
petergow3 (Skype)
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