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The Common Advantages Of Classroom Walkthroughs

By Walter Barnes


This is a practice that is commonly found in many organized schools. It is basically the act of frequently visiting students learning rooms looking for specific particular or specific instructional practices. This is mostly done by principals and sometimes supervisors. Classroom walkthroughs is today being used as evaluation tools by numerous schools all over the world.

The teachers are reminded of the school motto, mission and goal and asked to teach with respect to them. The commonly used tools in such a process include some clinical supervision, thorough classroom observation by supervisors and ensuring feedback is communicated to responsible persons. The teaching skills of a teacher are basically observed but not with an intention of correcting them but rather assisting teachers improve their skills.

The main role of walkthroughs was not actually to evaluate but rather to professionally develop teachers professional skills and ensure they deliver as expected of them. This is the sole reason why they have become quite popular. The practice is a trending nowadays or its on the rise. This practice is very vital for all schools.

The is a non threatening and a non evaluative practice that generally give school heads a quick glimpse of their student learning. That quick snapshot is used by the head teachers to engage the junior teachers in a very important conversation about the ways to improve their teaching. The walkthroughs should not be used as probably a tool for intimidation by any supervisor or teacher. On the contrary, the principal should use the opportunity to explain to teachers how the process is beneficial to them and also the students they are teaching.

Many teachers actually do not approve of this method of evaluation since they feel as if they are being diminished or spied upon by their principals. School heads or leader usually work in an environment that is very stressing and if it is true that exercises relives stress, then such principals should be among those people considered healthy due to the walking they do around the school. This technique of walking through was borrowed from the work of famous author known as Carolyn Downey.

This practice though is supposed to be distinguished from the common formal evaluation processes for teachers. The technique focuses mainly on engaging teachers or other teaching staff in a dialogue and generally reflecting on teaching practices and also reflecting on school wide goals. The lecturer usually benefits by basically learning how reflection can be used to improve or increase ones knowledge, performance and skills.

A famous scholar by the name of Sather E. Susan believed that walkthrough is very significant step towards influencing or bring real change to all learning institutions. This is by bringing the administrators very close to classrooms or lecturer halls and influencing teacher to become instructional leaders. One teacher once said that walk-throughs usually allow people to see clearly where they intend to go, with their students or pupils best interest in their mind.

There are those teachers that actually dislike the process considering it as being degrading and intimidating. This is a wrong perception of the process as it main goal is to only improve how a person does things or approaches things. The teachers though should be made aware of the benefits associated with the practice. Famous scholars and authors who have largely contributed to this practice include Sather E, Susan, McNeely Marguerite and Lawrence Hayden.




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