Learning Walks
Educator Protocols
What is a learning walk?
A Learning Walk is a brief classroom visit that provides teachers opportunities to reflect on learning and teaching strategies, student interaction with the content, and student engagement.
Learning walks foster growth.
The Process
Norms
Before the Walk:
- Let the teacher you are observing know you would like to come. At this point, it may be beneficial to ask questions regarding what lesson will take place or what instruction has taken place leading up to the lesson. You might also request to talk to learners during the walk. (Need ideas for teachers to observe? Check this out!)
- Establish a focus point (see infographic right).
During the Walk:
- Observe for 10-15 minutes.
- Be present in the observation - technology use should be for the learning walk itself.
- Focus on your Educator Goal but feel free to jot down ideas for other areas, too.
- Take notes about what you see in your area of growth. These are not evaluative, but merely notes about what you see taking place.
- Take notes about what you will take back to your classroom.
After the Walk:
- Express appreciation to the educator.
Individual Task:
Review and clarify your notes.
Highlight the relevant observations related to the focus point.
Partner/Group Task:
Share out the relevant observations.
Discuss and identify patterns amongst the observations.
Updates from iLead 1/26/16
Learning Walk Expectations
Engage in Learning Walks twice per six weeks.
Can be done during TEAM Time
Preferred on Thursday PL day
Group Reflection following Learning walks
Opportunity to share “Saws, Likes, and Will use/shares”
iLead Temperature Checks
Each iLead session we will share out “shout outs” and “uh ohs," so please be thinking about what you might like shared via Sam
Think About:
- How can we use our transfer goals to help us develop understanding during the Learning Walk process?
Protocol and Descriptive Feedback Practice
- Establish a focus.
- Consider: What limitations were inadvertently in place with this video? (inability to ask learners specific questions, inability to see the walls, …).
- Make notes regarding your observation.
- Debrief.
Reflection
- I saw...
- I liked...
- I will use or have a discussion about...