Reflective Practice Archives

The Blogger Challenge

The Blogger Challenge concludes today. A challenge was issued and 18 daring educators answered the call. Some had never blogged before. A few had blogs, but had not written and reflected in a while. Others never stopped. Some of the cool things about this blogger challenge was that it was a) voluntary b) during the summer c) badge related d) cross divisional Feedback from the Bloggers… “What fun the blogging challenge was, it was my first time participating in an all school activity. Thank you for the opportunity it’s been fantastic!” “What a fun ride! I am challenging myself to keep […]

Digital Citizenship / eportfolio / Formative Assessment / Innovation / Learning Measures / Progress Monitoring / Reflective Practice / Space Configurations / Technology / Visible Thinking Routines Posted on: October 23, 2015October 23, 2015

10 Ways e-Portfolios Increase Learning

10 Ways e-Portfolios Increase Learning In schools, the use of e-portfolios is increasing as a way to enable learning, as well as a means to measure it. See Admissions Revolution (80 colleges and universities move towards use of online portfolios). There are a variety of types and purposes of e-portfolios including workspace, showcase, academic, employment, etc. This post focuses primarily on the blog as student workspace – designed as a tool to accelerate learning at any age, as well as to build capacity for being globally competitive beyond schooling. How might e-portfolios increase learning? 1) Writing – Does the importance of […]

Book Review / Coaching & Feedback / Instructional Rounds / Reflective Practice / Teamwork Posted on: October 21, 2015October 21, 2015

Thanks for the Feedback

Thanks for the Feedback Our team has recently discovered this fabulous book, recommended by Meredith Monk from Folio Collaborative. The authors outline the 3 types of feedback we all need and receive as human beings: appreciation, coaching, and evaluation. None of these concepts are new, but the clarification of each one, as well as the interconnectedness of them are providing important insights for us. Just the summary from Chapter 1 alone has given us great fodder for discussion and reflection. “Feedback” is really three different things, with different purposes: Appreciation – motivates and encourages. Coaching – helps increase knowledge, skill, […]

Coaching & Feedback / Instructional Rounds / Professional Learning / Reflective Practice Posted on: September 24, 2015

Implementing Instructional Rounds

Implementing Instructional Rounds Recently, the idea was posed to us about how to implement instructional rounds. I’m so excited at the prospect of sharing this valuable practice with other educators, that my mind began racing. Hundreds of thoughts all crashing together in my mind at the same instant. Pulling out a trusty, white legal pad, I began to scribble down questions. Ah, start with questions. It’s embedded in my DNA. Questions for Schools to Discuss Before IR Can you describe your school’s current model for observation? Current evaluation model? Feedback model? Is there any peer to peer observation happening in your […]

Faculty Meetings / Professional Learning / Professional Learning Communities / Reflective Practice / Teamwork / Visible Thinking Routines Posted on: August 27, 2015August 27, 2015

How Are Mistakes and Failures Embraced?

Teachers participated in a visible thinking routine called “Think, Pair, Share” today. They asked, “How are mistakes and failures embraced as opportunities to grow and learn?” Specifically, they applied this question to 3 key initiatives: Assessments, ePortfolios, and Student Led Conferences.Today’s Agenda – Middle School Faculty Meeting Desired Outcomes: Expand our ability to utilize assessment in new and more effective ways Advance ePortfolios by incorporating more storytelling Collaborate with vertical teams to grow in our practice Essential Questions: How are mistakes and failures embraced as opportunities to grow and learn? How are students “storytelling” their learning with ePortfolios? Learning Activities: Think, […]

Coaching & Feedback / Instructional Rounds / Professional Learning / Reflective Practice Posted on: August 26, 2015

Traditional Observation v Instructional Rounds

In our third year of practicing instructional rounds, I continue to learn and grow in my ability to deliver quality, meaningful feedback to our teachers. They are the best. The top. The elite professionals. I often tell them they are the “Michael Phelps” of education. And even Michael Phelps needs a coach to be the best in his field. I believe instructional rounds is one of the most effective methods to professional growth in education. “A commitment to professional learning is important, not because teaching is of poor quality and must be ‘fixed,’ but rather because teaching is so hard […]

21st Century MV Mindsets / eportfolio / Reflective Practice / XLR8 Summer Grants Posted on: August 11, 2015August 18, 2015

4 Characteristics of a Quality ePortfolio

4 Characteristics of a Quality ePortfolio 1) Easy to Use – We launched our first version of a student eportfolio using Google sites two years ago. It was the result of a collaborative summer grant with a team representing Preschool, Lower, Middle, and Upper School. The product was visually appealing and featured two major sections: Collection and Showcase. The Collection was for everything. Finished, unfinished, polished, and imperfect. The Showcase was reserved for only the finest works. All of the learning demonstrations and reflections were curated by the 6 MV Mindsets (Collaborator, Communicator, Solution Seeker, Ethical Decision Maker, Creative Thinker, […]

Instructional Rounds / Reflective Practice Posted on: July 23, 2015August 14, 2015

Another Round of Instructional Rounds

This Fall will be our Middle School team’s 3rd consecutive year utilizing instructional rounds as a key part of our reflective practice and professional learning cycle. With the exception of developing and leading professional learning, I believe observing teachers and providing feedback through follow up debriefs is my favorite part of being an educational leader. Utilizing a data collection tool created by Bo Adams in Survey Monkey, we have provided detailed, written feedback to each individual educator observed, as well as mapped out a larger view of our collective pedagogical practices – a fancy phrase for “stuff that happens in […]

eportfolio / Reflective Practice Posted on: April 6, 2015April 6, 2015

It’s a Work in Progress

Caution: Some ideas, products, and posts in this blog may not yet be perfect or even finished. I use this space for capturing and iterating ideas; a dojo for the art of reflective practice and professional growth. I also like to post stuff that makes me happy. Some of that stuff may be seemingly unrelated to education. I hope it inspires you the way it inspires me. You can expect partly finished products that are at various stages of the learning process. I often return to posts days, weeks, or months later to continue exploring and developing my thoughts around […]

R & D / Reflective Practice Posted on: March 20, 2015March 22, 2015

3 Tips for Educational Research of Best Practices

3 Tips for Educational Research of Best Practices Educators must strive to discover and utilize both “tried and true best practices” and experiment with “new, innovative” approaches to teaching and learning. Tapping in to educational research and expanding your PLN (Professional Learning Network) is a great way to accomplish this. It is vitally important for educational practitioners to base their teaching habits and tools in strategies supported by research. Teachers often use research based practices without even knowing it. Conducting a little research can confirm that your pedagogy is solid. On the other hand, teachers frequently utilize tactics that are […]