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Talking Points

Data displays are an effective way to engage teachers

By Learning Forward
February 2015
Although many models of coaching exist, one that promotes a high level of active adult learner engagement is instructional coaching using Jim’s Knight’s partnership coaching model (Knight, 2007), in which teachers engage in the coaching cycle with a coach or peer and have significant voice in shaping their own learning. The power of instructional coaching comes through teachers’ active involvement in choosing the focus for coaching and their engagement in interpreting data collected during the coaching observation. Consistent with Learning Forward’s Standards for Professional Learning (Learning Forward, 2011), this element of teacher voice through active learning processes helps to “promote deep understanding of new learning and increase motivation to implement it” (p. 42). In our work with coaches using Knight’s partnership model of instructional coaching, we

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Authors

Alyson Adams, Dorene Ross, Jamey Burns, and Lauren Gibbs

Alyson Adams ([email protected]) is clinical associate professor and Dorene Ross ([email protected]) is professor emeritus at the University of Florida. Jamey Burns ([email protected]) and Lauren Gibbs ([email protected]) are professional development specialists at the University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning and doctoral candidates at the University of Florida.

Is Your Data Display High-Quality?

  • Is the data display responsive to the teacher’s guiding question and designed to lead/guide the coaching conversation?
  • Are data nonevaluative, descriptive, and easy to understand? Try to avoid interpretation.
  • Is the data display brief — no more than two pages long?
  • Does the data display focus on only one key area of practice?
  • Does the data display reflect data collected during the entire observation?
  • Did you and the teacher agree on the data collection plan and data display?

References

Knight, J. (2007). Instructional coaching: A partnership approach to improving instruction. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Learning Forward. (2011). Standards for Professional Learning. Oxford, OH: Author.


Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.


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