Educational explorations
Every now and then I find myself on an educational exploration. In the midst of a furore over teachers weighty work load and a marking melee, we have been busy looking for robust and catalytic assessment solutions. In my search for time efficiencies in marking and assessment I stumbled upon QuickKey, which in turn perked a previous curiosity on the use of objective testing, specifically Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). MCQs turned out to be a much more significant assessment method that I had realised, which then lead to an assessment project combining MCQs, QuickKey and an exam feedback tools created by @Dataeducatior, led by our decisive Head of Science, Paul Kearley.
Alongside MCQs, we are looking at how question level analysis can be used to frame feedback for students and to enhance teaching processes. In the first instance we are engaging students with their feedback and in the feed forward process; identifying areas they need to address and constructing learning targets. Second, we are investigating the inter-class variations. Identifying areas for teacher collaboration and re-teaching of misunderstanding or learning gaps.
Graded lesson observation – life sentence
We are right back at the a-h guilty list of graded lesson observation and Performance Review questions. Well almost. We pick up at c). c) what might replace graded lesson observations and d) whether or not lesson observations should be a part of Performance Review (“graded” obviously removed), and e) whether or not lesson observations (graded or otherwise) should be a .... Read more and bookmark.
School Inspection Update 1
Eggstra, eggstra. Look – it is not easy finding a feature image for a post on the School Inspection Update 1 and British values you know. Today I heard from a colleague, senior leader and Ofsted inspector, that he really felt that Ofsted, the organisation, was really opening up to the profession. We are no debating the purpose, reliability or accuracy of inspections here, rather the .... Read more and bookmark.
Leading graded lesson observations part 2
We were moving forward with a fairly standard graded lesson observation form. The top section gathering the contextual information of the class/lesson and current progress of the pupils. The form was then divided into four key sections. “Learning and Progress1,” – what the pupils are learning and how thy are progressing over time, despite my own reservations .... Read more and bookmark.
Leading graded Learning Observations – part 1
For the past two years, within our Academy’s context, I have over-seen the move from a graded “Lesson Observations” schedule to a distributed graded Lesson Observations and Professional Development and Support” programme (LOPDS). When I arrived, all previous observations had been conducted by the VP with a responsibility for Teaching and Learning and her senior .... Read more and bookmark.