The Second Level Support Service is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan

Self Evaluation – focus on classroom practice

Harry Freeman

harryfreeman@slss.ie

087-2908528

Evaluation is a process to ensure learning and teaching continually evolves to achieve identified goals

Evaluation means figuring out whether you are meeting your goals, if not why not, and what you should do next to improve.

.

What is Evaluation?

Teaching is a dynamic process that frequently presents new challenges. What works this year might not address next year’s needs. Frequent evaluation and improvement will help keep things fresh and moving forward.

Why Evaluate?

In a nutshell, what’s it all about?

1 Affirmation 2 Improvement

Evaluation asks three basic questions in relation to the teaching goals:

1. What should I as a teacher keep doing? Why?

2. What should I as a teacher stop doing? Why?

3. What should I as a teacher start doing that is not being done at the moment? Why?

What should we evaluate? • Planning of work

• Planning for resources

• Teaching methodologies

• Classroom management

• Classroom atmosphere

• Learning

• Assessment modes and outcomes

• Record Keeping and reporting

• Student engagement in subject

• Overall student achievement in subject

Source:Looking at our School

What Instruments might we use?

Quantitative Qualitative

Desk Research Closed Questionnaires

Checklists Standard FormsLogs, Diaries, Recordings etc.Evaluation Grids

SCOT AnalysisOpen Questionnaires InterviewsForce Field Analysis Spot CheckCritical Incident Analysis Self-evaluation Profile

Source: sdpi.ie

Aim of this Session

• Reflection on classroom practice

• Ongoing development of teacher practice

To engage in some conversation around the development of a checklist approach that will stimulate:

Checklist

• Can be used by an individual member of staff to carry out a private audit.

• Can be completed in cooperation with a colleague where relevant points are discussed

• Can be used as a subject Dept/ teaching team approach to identify common issues

Some Questions…

• How might it be used in your school?

• What changes would you suggest to the current format?

• What additions would you make to enhance its effectiveness?