Isolation is a pervasive characteristic of life for a teacher in a modern school. Teachers meet in professional learning communities, attend trainings, and are even observed by administrators while they teach, but they rarely get the chance to see what other teachers do in the classroom. When the bell rings, they find themselves alone with their students. Instructional rounds can counter that isolation. The idea itself—centered around teachers observing and providing feedback on each other’s teaching—is relatively simple, but as Vicki Wilson shows, the effects are profound: Observing educators pick up new ideas. Observed teachers experience a confidence boost. New school-wide instructional initiatives can be adopted more quickly. And broader school-improvement goals can be supported with concrete examples. Most important of all, instructional rounds rescue teachers from isolation by fostering a shared sense of mission and growing trust between fellow educators, who realize they have a team that supports and values them. Wilson’s willingness to be honest about the process she implemented in her own school—the moments of doubt, the ups and downs, the mistakes, and successes—transforms this practical book into something inspiring.
Number of Units: 1.0 - 3.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours
Who Should Attend: This course provides continuing education for DoDEA Educators
Professional development courses offered by the University of San Diego’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education are taught by faculty that possess a depth and breadth of academic and real-world professional experience.
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Courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that allows you to structure your education to suit your schedule while keeping you on pace toward achieving your educational goals.
Online fixed-date courses are delivered virtually but follow a predetermined schedule, requiring students to complete assignments, participate in discussions, and take assessments by specific deadlines—much like a traditional classroom. The key difference is that while traditional courses are conducted in person at set times and locations, online fixed-date courses allow students to engage remotely, offering more flexibility in where they learn while preserving structure and accountability through fixed timelines. (Note: Any scheduled Zoom sessions will be outlined on the class schedule.) These courses have fixed start and finish dates, but as an online student you will have 24/7 online access to your classroom assignments, syllabus and course resources. Instructor feedback is shared along with the graded assignments.
How is the learning structured? Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates. The course is designed with learning modules where all of the content is grouped into weekly assignments. Each module covers one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:
• Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
• Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
• Assignments with due dates (which may include: written assignments, journal entries, research, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
• Discussion forum where you answer prompts from the instructor and interact with your classmates.
• Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.
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