Collaborating with the QAS

Sandra Martinaitis&

April Nix

Observations at Georgia Virtual are designed around making YOU the best instructor you can be for your

students.

Develop a Relationship with QAS

The role of your QAS is to offer experienced feedback. QAS will be a resource to you in reaching your goals.

Checklist

Introduce yourself to your QAS if he/she has not contacted you

Let them know if there is an area you are working on for improvement

CC your Course Updates CC any positive emails/feedback – don’t be shy!

Reflection Set Monthly Goals

When you receive your monthly observation set aside time for reflection and goal setting.

Small changes over time can make a huge difference in your professional growth.

Checklist

Any Needs Attention? – Work on these first! Mastery? – Do you want to go to the next level? What does

it take to bring Mastery to Exceptional? Scan the rubric and see if there are suggestions that you don’t

know how to address. Set specific, attainable monthly goals. Share your goal with your QAS.

Know the Rubric verbiage matters

GradingPolicy

CommunicationHomepageDiscussions

Data AnalysisDifferentiation

Caution

Each Observation is a brand new look at your course

QAS will look for different things in the beginning , during and end of the semester

Overall Indicators

MasteryThe standards for quality instruction at the Georgia Virtual School are set very high. Our program is nationally recognized for the breadth and depth of our courses. Teachers that meet the expectations are by default among the best teachers in the state and at the forefront of online education in the nation.

ExceptionalTeachers that display the skills and effort necessary for this rating are considered experts in the category. Their work is exceptional and should be shared in professional development opportunities. Generally, only one aspect of exceptional needs to be met for this distinction. All indicators for the meets category must be met before exceptional is considered.

GRADINGThe Most Important Feedback for Students and Parents

MASTERY Grades within 72 hours Feedback is specific and

individual for ALL discussions, quizzes, and dropbox items

Grading and Feedback adhere to late policy

Late submissions are documented in feedback

Specific dates for late work is provided

Feedback includes video, audio, and images as appropriate

EXCEPTIONAL Consistently grades assignments

within 24 hours Consistently provides feedback Feedback includes links to outside

resources Feedback provides dates for future

late submissions Exemplars are provided

POLICYIt is important that you . . .

Understand the policies of GaVS as explained in the school handbook

Check email and respond daily Respond to instructions from Department Chair and Instructional

Leaders and Administration according to guidelines and timelines Communicate with your Department Chair and Coordinator of

Instruction when you are unsure of how to proceed in a situation Document all deviations from policy in the Communication Log Ensure all Special Education students are being serviced and

accommodations put into place within 72 hours

COMMUNICATIONYour Relationship With Your Students and Stakeholders

MASTERY Communication Log in TheSIS reflects all

welcome calls and emails TheSIS reflects communication with failing

students, serious issues and special education modifications

TheSIS reflects communication on student schedule and approved adjustments

Instructor responds to all communication within one school day

Communication is professional and courteous

Consistent bi weekly course updates A variety of communication, including

news announcements, emails, pages, phone calls

All communication conforms to FERPA

EXCEPTIONAL Communication consistently and

quickly provided Variety of formats – phone calls,

newsletter, video, synchronous sessions,

Bi weekly Course Updates are attractive, interesting and informative

Potential issues addressed proactively and documented

Consistently reaches out to share positive info and encourage for improvement

Maintains constant ,productive communication to encourage

Displays innovation in communicating with students

HOMEPAGE The First Impression of Your Classroom

MASTERYWeekly announcements posted weeklyStart and end date indicated on all announcementsAnnouncements are current, interactive and display valuable information and/or additional learning opportunitiesInformation easily identifiedDirections that navigate student away from homepage are clear

EXCEPTIONALClassroom is student centered and source of encouragementDisplays student work as exemplarsUse of conditional released items and data to provide differentiationIndividualized feedback with external resources, innovative technology tools beyond those provided such as YouTube, Twitter, Jings, VokiAnnouncements updated several times per week

DISCUSSIONSGive Your Students Voice to Explore Non-Punitively

MASTERY

Monitors discussion topics daily Teacher focuses discussions on

critical thinking and course content

Discussions enhance content and work

Discussions facilitate student voice

(each department has specific guidelines for discussions)

EXCEPTIONAL Instructor responds to discussion

threads daily Posts enliven and enhance the

discussion through explanation, remediation, and enrichment

Instructor encourages student ownership of dialogue

Socratic method employed leading to critical thinking and independent learning

Audio/video is effectively utilized Outside sources and current events

are linked

DATA ANALYSIS

MASTERY

Instructor reflects on specific data source/report in e Portfolio according to protocol

Reflections include analysis of source and specific action plan that could be enacted

Instructor utilizes various streams of data to create individualized learning plans or specific actions that benefit student success

Instructor analyzes standardized test results and institutes specific curriculum differentiation

EXCEPTIONAL

DIFFERENTIATIONRemediation & Enrichment

MASTERY Offers alternative assignments and

resources that are designed for different learning styles

Provides targeted enrichment and remediation experiences for students

Records audio/video feedback for alternative learning styles

Provides lessons for multiple learning styles through synchronous sessions

Documents differentiation in e Portfolio according to protocol deadlines

Tests all students to determine learning styles

Offers multiple alternative assignments designed for learning styles

Consistently records audio/video to augment written feedback

Uses web 2.0 to cater to learning styles

Offers additional remediation through recorded demonstrations, Jing, Snagit or similar tools

Offers integrated instruction in 21 century skills

EXCEPTIONAL

ResourcesTap in to These Opportunities

• Teacher Forum• Faculty Meetings• Professional Development• Collaboration with co workers• Edmodo Professional Development Groups

– Links for each month’s topic with fantastic examples from teacher courses

• Teacher Toolbox: how-to videos and tools to use

“Be a Yardstick for Quality.”

“Some people aren‘t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” Steve Jobs

Questions