City Colleges of ChicagoCity Colleges of ChicagoAdult Education Adult Education

PresentsPresents

Evaluating Instruction in Evaluating Instruction in Adult EducationAdult Education

How do we make it How do we make it meaningful?meaningful?

Presented By:Presented By:

Kathleen BlackburnKathleen Blackburn, , Program DirectorProgram Director

AgendaAgenda• Background

• Instructional Evaluation Form

• Scavenger Hunt Activity

• Training Components

CCC Evaluation of Instruction CCC Evaluation of Instruction BackgroundBackground

• Inclusive committee developed evaluation process and instructional observation form in 2001

• Process included…– Evaluation every 2 years– Pre-evaluation meeting– Syllabus and Lesson Plan Collection– Evaluation– Post-evaluation meeting– Non-instructional duties evaluation

CCC Evaluation of Instruction CCC Evaluation of Instruction BackgroundBackground

• In 2007, District-Office staff began a revision of the instructional evaluation form in order to…– Develop a form more in line with current best

practices in AE instruction– Modify the format to be aligned with the forms

used for pre-credit, developmental and credit faculty

– Create a form that clearly evaluates the overall classroom experience during the administrator’s visit

CCC Evaluation of Instruction CCC Evaluation of Instruction BackgroundBackground

• Upon finalization of the new Instructional Observation Form, the “roll-out” included…– Training for pilot program administrators– 16-week pilot term-Spring 2008– Implementation– More training for all administrators– Periodic trainings for administrators

• Calibration-Standardize completion of the form across the district

• 2 meetings per year

Instructional Evaluation FormInstructional Evaluation Form• Components

– Teaching Skills– Student Interaction– Verbal Communication Skills– Written Communication Skills– Feedback to Students– Learning Environment Management– Organization/Preparation

Instructional Evaluation FormInstructional Evaluation Form

• Performance Scale– Excellent

– Good

– Opportunity for Growth

– Insufficient Information to Comment

Scavenger Hunt Key PointsScavenger Hunt Key Points

• Report Back

• Hands-On Experience

• Compare and Contrast to Current Use

• Provide Tool

Training ComponentsTraining Components

• Characteristics of Effective Adult Educators– Calibrate list among group (see handout)

• Methods of Assessing AE Effectiveness

• Reasons to Observe and Evaluate Classroom Instruction

• How to Conduct the Evaluation

Training ComponentsTraining Components

• Thorough Review of Form and Guidelines

• Practice Evaluation Activity

• Follow-Up Trainings – Sharing/Comparing Completed Evaluation Forms– Discussing Best Practices – Calibration Activities

How can we assess the How can we assess the effectiveness of Adult effectiveness of Adult

Educators?Educators?

• Pre-Post Test Score ComparisonPre-Post Test Score Comparison

• Retention Retention

• Student EvaluationsStudent Evaluations

• Administrator EvaluationAdministrator Evaluation

Administrator Evaluation: Administrator Evaluation: Why Evaluate?Why Evaluate?

• Increase student learningIncrease student learning

• Increase student satisfactionIncrease student satisfaction

• Diagnose strengths and Diagnose strengths and weaknesses in the learning weaknesses in the learning environmentenvironment

• Curriculum improvement and Curriculum improvement and developmentdevelopment

Administrator Evaluation: Administrator Evaluation: Why Evaluate?Why Evaluate?

• Quality AssuranceQuality AssuranceAccountabilityAccountability

–Document teaching performanceDocument teaching performance

• ProfessionalProfessional

• Personnel Issues DevelopmentPersonnel Issues Development

• Provide feedback to other Provide feedback to other stakeholdersstakeholders

Not everything that is faced Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed, but nothing

can be changed until it is can be changed until it is faced.”faced.”

-James Baldwin-James Baldwin

I never teach my pupils; I I never teach my pupils; I only provide them the only provide them the

conditions in which they conditions in which they can learn. -Einsteincan learn. -EinsteinHow well does the teacher How well does the teacher

empower students to become empower students to become self-directed independent life-self-directed independent life-

long learners?long learners?

Observable vs. Unobservable Behavior

(see handout)

Conducting the Evaluation Conducting the Evaluation Step 1) Arrange the date with the instructor approximately Step 1) Arrange the date with the instructor approximately

2 weeks in advance; provide the AE with the complete 2 weeks in advance; provide the AE with the complete document form with guidelines. document form with guidelines.

Step 2) Meet with the instructor approximately 10-15 Step 2) Meet with the instructor approximately 10-15 minutes before the class to: minutes before the class to: a: collect syllabus and day’s lesson plan (ask the a: collect syllabus and day’s lesson plan (ask the teacher to give you handouts with the students)teacher to give you handouts with the students)

b: get a debriefing from the teacher on the class, b: get a debriefing from the teacher on the class, progress, day’s objective, etc. progress, day’s objective, etc.

Step 3) Observe the complete class or until a break. Meet Step 3) Observe the complete class or until a break. Meet with the teacher briefly to give overall comments. with the teacher briefly to give overall comments.

Conducting the EvaluationConducting the Evaluation

Step 4) Provide the AE with the complete document within Step 4) Provide the AE with the complete document within one week in order to provide feedback in a timely manner. one week in order to provide feedback in a timely manner.

Step 5) Suggestions for improvement should be clear and Step 5) Suggestions for improvement should be clear and methods/options of improvement should be provided.methods/options of improvement should be provided.

Step 6) Any AE who has multiple areas that need Step 6) Any AE who has multiple areas that need improvement should be given observed briefly within the improvement should be given observed briefly within the next 2-4 weeks. next 2-4 weeks.

Step 7) This process should be repeated until the teacher Step 7) This process should be repeated until the teacher demonstrates improvement and/or the attempt to improve. demonstrates improvement and/or the attempt to improve.

In Summary…In Summary…• Background

• Instructional Evaluation Form

• Scavenger Hunt Activity

• Training Components

Final ActivityFinal Activity

• Introduce yourself to someone sitting next to you. – Name– Roll in AE

• Review the handout “Characteristics of Effective Instruction in Adult Education”

• Make your Top 10 List!• Share with another pair. • Discuss.

Thank you for attending this session!Any questions?Any questions?

Please feel free to contact me at Please feel free to contact me at

kblackburn@ccc.edu with any questions with any questions or for additional materials. or for additional materials.