Critical Minds Session Feb 13, 2012

Critical Minds met for their twice postponed third session on Feb 13. Betti presented and Sinan facilitated for this session, focusing on different teacher evaluation models. Members came to the session well prepared by reading the materials sent to each beforehand. Several different teacher evaluation models were sampled and discussed.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-vEO2wwtXpOMzk5ZTk1YjMtZTJmMC00YzM2LTgzZDktM2E4YjViNGFiNTVk

A modified version of the Text Rendering Protocol was used. Members formed pairs and went over the models, choosing the ones they thought reflected a fair, clear and comprehensive system of evaluation, and identified main criteria for evaluation. They then dicussed with their partners their choices and offered revisions or additions. In the last 15 minutes, each pair presented their choice and explained their reasoning.

Berna and Nilhan chose the Adams County model, saying they liked the idea of a whole cycle. Sinan and Betti chose the PUSD model, saying the criteria were very relevant.Tunç and Simge also chose the Adams County model, saying it was detailed yet easy to assess, with well defined criteria and rubrics. Hande and Amanda liked the Pre Conference form. All groups agreed and suggested that teacher's personal qualifications might be added to a chosen model. Betti pointed out that these should never become a check list; and the lack of such personal qualifications should never be used to penalize them. Common personal qualifications cited were:

• quality of relationships/communication with students/parents/collegaues
• being approachable
• patience
• positive attitude
• respectfulness
• depth of experience ( outside school as well)
• fariness
• passion for teaching/subject matter
• life skills
• interest in world affairs/arts/culture/reading/hobbies
• future goals

Betti collected all the proposals and will use the results from this session, as well as the results from similar sessions that will be conducted on the same issue by the other groups, as input to the construction of a campus wide teacher evaluation model.

Merger

Idea Under Construction has kindly said we, as Busy Bees, can merge with them. This year the numbers in our group dwindled so we are looking forward to our next meeting on February 16. Contrary to the popular Turkish saying, let's think that there is safety in numbers or the more the merrier!

Kağıt Kız

Elif Özge shared "Kağıt Kız" by Guillaume Musso with us, a book that she had recently read on the plane which was taking her to the MUN Conference at Yale. She said that it was just the right kind of book to read on a journey and the mixture of fantasy and reality had appealed to her. Musso is obviously a writer who has found a formula that goes down well with young readers. It is interesting to note that most, if not all of his books are set in the US even though he is French and writes in his native tongue. We know how popular such settings are for many Turkish readers and the number of fantasy type serials on CNBC demonstrate what young audiences like.

Technology in Education

Dears,

There's a lot of talk going on about tablets, and how they are to be used in schools, and myriads of questions about the issue. I came across these two sites, one is an association that tries to set standards in this area; the other is a private school in the US, that's been using this technology for some years; and has loads of help in its Technology section on its menu. If you are interested and would like to read, go ahead...

www.iste.org/standards.aspx

http://www.caryacademy.org/