To Zoom or Not To Zoom: TLE Training During a Pandemic

Dr. Jeanene Barnett, CCOSA Education Policy & Research Analyst

Research consistently identifies that the teacher is the most important factor in the classroom that impacts student achievement. Esteemed researcher John Hattie (2012) reveals in Visible Learning for Teachers, empirical research demonstrates that evaluation and two-way feedback are, “among the most powerful influences on student achievement” (p. 182).

Oklahoma recognized this fact almost a decade ago and responded by legislating requirements through the Teacher Leader Effectiveness (TLE) Evaluation System [70 O.S. § 6-101.16 (OSCN 2020) and OAC: 210:20-41-1(c)]. At the center of teacher evaluations are ways to guide improvement of teaching skills and recognize and reinforce teaching excellence

CCOSA and Barlow Education, in collaboration with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), continue to offer recertification and new administrator training that helps Oklahoma administrators develop and enhance the skills needed to implement the Tulsa Model Evaluation instrument successfully.

This year, the TLE Tulsa Model training focused on connections across the evaluation rubric that would help guide conversations about improving teaching skills. The rubric, by defining common expectations for effective teaching, provides the basis for rich data-driven conversations and focuses on professional growth and learning. Making connections across the Tulsa Model evaluation Rubric Indicators helps to save valuable principal/evaluator time.

The TLE Tulsa Model Recertification this year comes with a 25-page video toolkit organized by indicator. The first 11 pages provide access to multiple videos that can be used to help teachers with Classroom Management, focusing on Relationships, Procedures and Processes, Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports, etc.

The CCOSA TLE Training survey results reveal how helpful participants found the training and support materials this year.

In response to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and the community, state, and national guidelines regarding social distancing and group gatherings, CCOSA pivoted all of their TLE: Tulsa Model and McREL Training from face-to-face meetings to online live via Zoom with resounding success based on the survey results from attendees.

In the past, “On the road again” could have served as the soundtrack of our lives during summer training time. That is one positive consequence that has come out of this pandemic. It has caused us to pivot, and we have found value in virtual training. We still have much to learn to maximize the use of the technology, but the survey results emphasized that good training is good training regardless of the medium:

• knowledgeable and experienced teachers,

• opportunities to collaborate and learn from others (relationships), and

• resources that participants can apply in the “real world,” or practical application of theory in practice.