The Many Benefits Of Implementing Instructional Rounds

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. Instructional rounds, however, can do much to ease the situation somewhat.

Implementing a system of teacher observations is within the abilities of any school. It simply consist of a small group of teachers that visit another teacher and observe his methods in his classroom. The observing teachers are led by someone that is well respected in the field of education. The teacher being observed is also normally a professional that is well regarded by his colleagues. Participation in such a system is always on a voluntary basis.

It is common practice for the observers to meet prior to the observation session. During this meeting they decide upon the goals of the observation session. The teacher being observed may, for example, have a reputation for getting students to participate in a lesson and they may decide that the goal of the observation session will be to learn more about this specific aspect of teaching.

It is important to understand that these observation sessions are not for the purpose of evaluation. The aim is for the observing teachers to learn from the teacher being observed. The students are informed of the forthcoming observation sessions and the reason for it. The teacher being observed is not given any feedback but he may request it.

After each session the observers meet again to share with each other the lessons they have learnt and the ideas that they have hatched whilst watching the teacher under observation in action. They also discuss ways in which these lessons and new ideas could be implemented in their own classrooms. Observers do not submit a report and their discussions are deemed to be confidential.

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.

Any society that wants to advance simply must understand that one of the cornerstones of a strong society is education of a high standard. Teachers face many difficult challenges and anything that can help them to inspire their learners is worth trying. Teachers learning from other teachers is a good idea.




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