Teacher Track
Instructional Practices Assessment (IPA)
Is one style of teaching predominant in classrooms throughout a school? Or do teachers vary their approach in an effort to reach every student? Answering those questions can be a first step to dramatic improvements in the use of varied and effective teaching strategies.
With a QTL Instructional Practices Assessment (IPA), a team of certified coaches using the Rutherford Learning Group’s 3-Column Observation Format™ observes and gathers data to identify instructional practice in every classroom of a participating school.
The data is collated, and presented to the faculty in a summary report. Instructional strengths are defined, recommendations for improvements are offered.
With a QTL IPA, every teacher is observed by QTL consultants to present a holistic picture of the actual vs. perceived instructional practices prevalent in the school.
IPA is an evaluative tool, going in with a “blank slate” to determine what is happening within three key areas of focus:
- Instructional Practices
- Student Work
- Social and Physical
- Environment
These areas of focus are then examined through the filter of the Principles of The Learning Centered School… or how fundamental principles (foundational research-based practices) of teaching are used in the three focus areas relevant to student performance.
Note: IPA is different from Classroom Walk Through (CWT) and is supportive of CWT. CWT is an excellent supervisory tool that establishes practices for the school and helps determine levels of performance relative to expectations in use of identified strategies.
Outcomes:
- IPA provides the principal and faculty a “big picture” examination of the instructional practices of the school. The assessment of practice is based on actual performance, not on a checklist of pluses and minuses. The IPA focuses directly on instruction and student performance and creates a comprehensive dialogue of practice, outcomes for students, and continuous improvement.
- Principal and faculty are better able to plan where to go next and how to get there to continue to increase student success.
Read about QTL's Teacher Coaching.