Step 1: Identify Implications (SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats analysis).
Strengths – Volunteer participation of teachers in forming collaborative groups could motivate teachers to take responsibility for their own learning and improve their teaching practice.
Weaknesses- It requires time and a great deal of trust. Since it is a volunteer participation, teachers who participate may not have the best skills.
Opportunities - Teacher learning through planned activities, observations, feedback will provide teachers with ongoing PD at minimal cost.
Threats – Lack of protocol to provide specific feedback during post observations. Since teachers from different subjects may volunteer, their lack of content knowledge may interfere with providing effective feedback.
Step 2: Develop Options (List the things you could do and the things you should do to prepare)
The following activities are things I could do and should do to prepare :
- Planned regular meetings
- Do research and come up with a list of topics related to teaching and learning across all subjects
- Every month, a different topic will be selected by teachers' consensus
- Ask teachers to choose their own partner
- Provide teachers with time to have pre-observation meeting
- Provide teachers with release time to observe each other
- Provide teachers with time to have post observation meeting
- Set up a date for all teachers to meet and share their experience
- More research on study groups
Step 3: Monitor Trends (How do you currently monitor trends? How might you need to adjust your radar?
I currently monitor the success of this type of study groups through weekly updates in educational journals and the blogs and tweets and edchat.
The thing that I would look at is what is the disadvantage of NOT doing this. What will the consequences be if your school continues along in the current format versus implementing this plan. That is you way to get people motivated in my mind.
ReplyDeleteFarzin, The following link is to an article that talks about the importance of teachers building social capital - just like your dissertation and this project. Maybe it can provide you ammunition.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/the_missing_link_in_school_reform
The disadvantage of NOT doing this collaboration would be reflected on student achievement. Teachers learn the best from their own colleagues. Without this kind of work, ineffective teachers would continue to isolate themselves and use the same old practice!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan, I will look into it!
ReplyDelete