Earlier this month, the Gates Foundation released its most recent report on the MET Project (Measures of Effective Teaching). The report focuses on the second set of preliminary findings, particularly on classroom observations. Five instruments for classroom observations are studied: the Framework for Teaching (FFT), developed by the Danielson Group; Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), developed by faculty at the University of Virginia; the Protocol for Language Arts Teacher Observations (PLATO), developed by Pam Grossman at Stanford; the Mathematical Quality of Instruction (MQI), developed by Heather Hill at Harvard; and UTeach Teacher Observation Protocol (UTOP), developed by faculty at the University of Texas-Austin.
Each instrument was evaluated on the basis of reliability and validity. The study found:
1. All five instruments were positively associated with student achievement gains.
2. Reliability characterizing a teacher’s practice required averaging scores over multiple observations.
3. Combining observation scores with evidence of student achievement gains on state tests and student feedback improved predictive power and reliability.
4. Combining observation scores, student feedback, and student achievement gains was better than graduate degrees or years of teaching experience at predicting a teacher’s student achievement gains with another group of students on the state tests.
5. Combining observation scores, student feedback, and student achievement gains on state tests also was better than graduate degrees or years of teaching experience in identifying teachers whose student performed well on other measures.
The report also emphasizes three key take-aways: First, that high-quality observations will require clear standards, certified raters, and multiple observations per teacher. Second, combining classroom observations, student feedback, and value-added student achievement gains capitalizes on teachers’ strengths and offsets weaknesses. Third, combining new approaches to measuring effective teaching significantly outperforms traditional measures; therefore, providing better evidence should lead to better decisions.
To read the full report, please visit http://www.metproject.org/reports.php
