Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Classroom Walkthroughs As A Management Technique

By Mattie Knight


Clinical supervision, or in other terms, classroom observation practice and feedback is a tool that is often used in evaluating the performance of teachers. However, its extent in which teachers are assisted to improve on instruction delivery is questionable. Owing to this, the classroom walkthroughs, which are not meant for evaluation but rather for the purpose of developing professionalism are rapidly increasing in 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 has been portrayed to be an efficient and effective system for collecting data that regards instructional practices and gives feedback. For it to be effective, leaders will be required to spend about a third of their classroom time, and when school heads spend more time in classes, teachers do report a perception that is positive of the principal.

For teachers to have a positive change on quality, leadership style plays a major role. For any improvement to be realized in the school-concerted efforts have to be displayed by both the instructional leaders and teachers. This builds an environment that can sustain success of any organization when the concerned leaders play the roles of teaching others.

The walkthrough model comprise of a sequence of frequent classroom visits where observers are present to look for evidence that is predetermined on specific practices. This observations are capable of lasting anywhere from about 2 to 45 minutes. They are also intended to support a faculty in delivery of curriculum and instructions. Various models of walkthrough exist and some school districts have come up with their own unique models.

The walkthroughs aims at providence of specific response to tutors on the basis of the evidence collected and snapshot image observed. The feedback, when given to any person, or any observer, one can deduce patterns noted during the whole process. This model provides one with an opportunity to; learn from the other participants, gather data on student mode of learning and the instructional practice. This helps in stimulation of better conversational exchange between the tutor and the student. This conversation should only be aimed at learning and teaching activities.

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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