Professional Learning in Virtual Classrooms
This week I revisited Edutopia's blog and came across Kristen Edwards' article, Professional Learning in Virtual Classrooms. She discusses the importance of teachers' continuous honing of their craft using reflection and peer observations. When many educators are teaching remotely and/or finding the time to observe other classes seems daunting, there are still ways to participate in peer observations. Edwards gives the strategy of joining in a fellow teacher's virtual meeting or watching a recorded lesson. Both options help the teachers working remotely because they can still see how other educators are supporting their students. The observer can learn new strategies, and the presenter can receive valuable feedback. By watching a recorded lesson, the viewer doesn't risk interrupting the natural flow of the class and can pause, rewind, or fast-forward to relevant time periods. The educator can also benefit from viewing their recorded lesson because they can observe things they may not have noticed while teaching. Or they can focus on specific areas of need and evaluate themselves.
I enjoyed this article because it has been more challenging for me to observe others since the pandemic started. I miss going into other teachers' classes and just watching them do what they do best. I have had the opportunity to co-teach on virtual meetings, which has allowed me to watch others, but I haven't really been on a meeting using an observer's lens. I hope to observe some of my colleagues soon, either online or in person.
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