main points, important because, I agree/disagree because, in my district this would look like/sound like? other thoughts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/04/technology/students-grade-teachers-and-a-start-up-harnesses-the-data.html?src=me
This article is about a new surveying tool created by Panorama Education. The goal is to use scientifically valid questions to survey students on their education and how the teachers are delivering their lessons and relating to the students. The company, Panorama Education has surveyed over 5000 schools, some of which are of the largest in the country. One innovation was to design a technique where the students can use their own paper to answer the questions rather than using specific paper and machines to score the answers to compile results. There is also a "dashboard" made for schools that show graphically how the students have answered.
This product is important because teachers can easily assess how they are interacting with the students, how the students' performance is affected, and splits all the information into subgroups. Lately, we have been focusing on test scores on the standardized tests. The students' responses are not always indicative of the teachers' abilities or their efforts. Many things that affect students' learning are not necessarily the actual subject matter instruction, but oftentimes the way teachers identify and interact with students is more important in motivating students to learn and do their best. I think this way of surveying is important because of its cost, the delineation of data and the ease of use. I believe most teachers want to improve in all aspects of their profession, and they will like to use this to find accurate information. I would like to think that the students would be honest, but sometimes students will not take surveys and tests seriously.
In our district I think this could be used appropriately. I would like to see this be used for growth rather than evaluation for the first year or two simply because learning new techniques of teaching and restructuring the way one relates to students will take time and practice. All in all, I think it is an excellent idea, and with it being free, and costs less to analyze the data, it won't cost the taxpayers as much as other surveying tools.
Barb, this is a great tool and I wish that this would be something that we could adopt in this district. With student performance getting added to teacher evaluations, this tool could give teachers the feedback they need to improve on relations with their students. The fact that the students actually get surveyed and get to give their input in words rather than test scores is also appealing. With the 5 essentials survey, don't we survey schools in the same manner, allowing students, teachers, and parents the opportunity to voice their opinion of the school. Why isn't the same done with the teacher? On a slightly related point, I will also add that with student performance being added to teacher evaluations, where is the accountability to others who impact that student? The teacher is not the only one who impacts how students perform. My philosophy follows the old adage that "it takes a village to raise a child." Where is the accountability for them?
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting. I have seen many other tools that can be used for grading, assessing, and getting instant feedback. I will have to check this out.
ReplyDeleteTyler, you are correct about the accountability issue. Now, what do we do about it?
I know there was a website called "rate your teacher" or something along those lines floating around years ago. I know very little about it, I don't know how it works or how the teacher gets the feedback! Maybe its a service your district has to pay into? I don't know! Anyway....
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the exact same thing Tyler! I am no longer a "classroom" teacher at the elementary level. Since teacher evaluation will soon be a part of student perfomance on some of these standardized tests, how are the "specialists" going to be graded? Allowing students to voice their feelings on all of the teachers that impact their learning, would be nice to use to help us "specialists" with our lesson planning etc.
Something that hasn't been said, though. What about the student that just doesn't like you or is having a bad day? And they say things that may not be true just to get back at you for something?! I don't know...something to think about too.