Teaching evaluations are one of the most effective ways to make sure that teachers in classrooms are performing up to standards and an effective way to determine actionable insight for changing teaching practices. Despite what many think teaching evaluation is a science and has a very particular method.
During COVID-19, teaching evaluation is one of the biggest challenges facing school leaders. How can administrators evaluate teaching in an uncertain environment, and how does remote learning change the effectiveness of traditional teaching practices?
To answer those questions, we have put together this list of 11 resources to help administrators and other classroom evaluators ensure that their evaluations are as effective as they can be.
1. UM CRLT
The University of Michigan’s Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) has a large library of resources for evaluators who wish to get the most out of their walk-throughs. This resource offers pages documenting the kind of evidence evaluators should be looking for, and reference materials for different teaching evaluation models.
2. METProject.org
The goal of the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) Project is to provide educators and administrators with the tools to identify good teaching and evaluations. This project is a collaboration between thousands of educators across the country. MET offers 5 main measures for measuring teacher-effectiveness and is formed by a diverse ground of expert educators and researchers.
3. National Council on Teacher Quality
The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) works to “restore the teaching profession to strong health so we can provide every child with the education needed to ensure a bright and successful future.” The NTCQ includes evaluations of over 2,400 programs and a large database with analysis and opinion pieces on workable solutions in the teaching evaluation sector. In addition to resources on teacher evaluation, the NCTQ publishes resources for teacher and administrator professional development.
4. Network for Educator Effectiveness
The Network for Educator Effectiveness (NEE) is a comprehensive educator evaluation system whose purpose is to grow teachers and improve schools. The NEE uses multiple methods of classroom observation through online portals to provide educators with the resources they need for growth and professional development. The NEE currently serves over 250 districts and over 35,000 teachers all around the country and includes resources for classroom observation, comprehensive evaluation, and teacher training. This research-based framework is based on a rubric of 27 observable indicators with over 300 professional learning resources integrated into the online tool.
5. Frontline Education
Frontline Education partners with K-12 educational leaders with school administration software to manage human capital, business operations, and special education. The group has a sole focus on K-12 schools and provides original research and resources for education leaders. Their library of resources has a number of useful tools for administrative evaluation, including sections dedicated specifically to teaching evaluations during the current COVID-19 global pandemic. Frontline also has a large library of webinars
6. UI CITL
The University of Illinois’ Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning offers several assessment tools and resources for education professionals and administrators. UI CITL uses data-driven analytics to find measurable metrics on teaching evaluation that can provide actionable data for improving teacher performance. CITL also provides resources for both formal and informal classroom walkthroughs.
7. Cornell CTI
The Center for Teaching Innovation at Cornell provides a full complement of individualized services programs, institutes, and initiatives to help educators and administrators create vibrant learning environments for students. The CTI works with departments and colleges across the country to catalyze academic innovation. They have a large library of research and tools for education research and evaluation, including assessments for peers and measuring student learning. CTI also has useful self-assessment tools for educators.
8. IDEAedu.org
IDEAedu.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing teachers and educators with free resources and training tools for educator evaluation, classroom design, classroom assessment, and more. IDEA has partnered with several groups across the country and has an entire library of independent research focusing on areas in faculty evaluation and development, leadership development, and more. Users can browse a large library of technical reports and research focusing on improving the use and understanding of teaching and learning methods.
9. AESA
The Association of Education Service Agencies (AESA) is a professional organization made up of educational experts from more than 40 states and 550 agencies nationwide. The organization’s mission is to support and strengthen regional educational services agencies by providing professional growth opportunities for educational leaders and support external studies related to teacher evaluation and classroom assessment, among other ventures. AESA partners with several large businesses and has a large library of resources for teaching professionals, including new updates for evaluations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
10. TNTP
The New Teacher Project (TNTP) is a non-profit organization focusing on teaching strategies and performance in emerging classrooms and focused schools. The TNTP has a collection of over 200 publications full of resources for educators, policymakers, and administrators on how to improve classroom experiences and identify common challenges in the educational sphere. The TNTP also offers practical tools, including a core observation guide for administrators and evaluators in the classroom.
11. Pearson
Pearson is an organization focused on providing products and services for educational experts, administrators, and teachers. Pearson has a library of resources for evaluating new teachers and works closely with educators to provide performance assessments, pedagogy assessments, and other useful classroom evaluation tools for educators. They also offer resources for teacher professional development.
Conclusions
Educational experts and administrators must have a rigorous standard for evaluating teachers and performing observational walkthroughs, whether in a formal or informal context. When it comes to education, teachers are on the front lines and need to be well-equipped with tools and strategies to optimize their teaching efforts. These resources can be an invaluable tool for educators and administrators who want to improve teacher performance and make sure that educators are performing in accordance with district or state-mandated standards.
