Sunday, November 15, 2015

A Look At Classroom Walkthroughs

By Mattie Knight


Clinical supervision, in other terms, is the observation of classroom practice and feedback as a tool for performance evaluation of teachers. However, the extent at which teachers improve skills of instruction delivery is in itself questionable as well as the method used. Owing to this fact, the classroom walkthroughs, which should not be used for evaluation but instead should be used to improve professionalism, are continually used as a means of gaining popularity.

Instructional leadership is an essential element of improving teaching and learning, this plays a significant role in improving the achievements of any student. Schools should adapt, create systems that create environment to apply what is taught in class in the real life. Learning in any institution is then actualized when students are able to identify a problem, evaluate the possible solutions and solve it.

The walkthrough model provides an efficient method that allows collection of data that involves institutional practice and provision of feedback. For this model to be successful, the leadership team is at least required to use a third of their time in classroom. With school heads taking more time in classes the teachers too will give a very positive perception to the authority including the principal.

For quality results to be achieved by teachers, the leadership style plays a very vital role. This requires the management to involve the tutors, teachers before making decisions that will involve them. This creates an environment of mutual trust and understanding. The results obtained from this kind of interaction are always tremendous.

This model comprises of random visits to the classroom to collect predetermined evidence o be used for some practice. The observations should be between 2 minutes and 40 minutes. This supports the faculty when developing the curriculum. Various models have been used overtime. Some schools though have invented their own models to be used.

A classroom walkthrough is aimed at providing direct and specific response to teachers on grounds of snapshot observed. This feedback is then offered to a person, or the observer can provide report showing the patterns that were noted during walkthrough. Walkthroughs have been capable of providing opportunities on; learning from other participants, gathering data about student learning and instructional practice, stimulating collegial conversation on teaching and learning, among other opportunities.

During its worst, the model can be seen or used as a compliance check. This is done to ensure that tutors, teachers are adhering to the top initiatives set. This should however be done under the understanding that performance is always low when teachers and tutors are worried of falling into trouble with the administrators. It should therefore be designed in a manner that emphasizes on collaboration between the two parties. This model mostly brings a picture of lack of professional accountability by both parties. This thus places them at loggerheads.

Bringing back a model that is in itself inadequate does no benefit to the school. Other better systems and methods should be used in conjunction to this one. The administrators should spare time to visit classrooms and create an instructional leadership and many others.




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