NYC schools adopt professional development tool

In an effort to provide more targeted professional development to improve teacher effectiveness, more than 150 New York City schools, which represent eight Children First Networks, have adopted Teachscape’s Classroom Walkthrough (CWT) software application and online Professional Learning Suite.

CWT is a research-based process that allows instructional leaders and others to quickly collect data about classroom practice. Teachscape CWT software includes Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching and other look fors and provides educators with the technology needed to conduct observations by using mobile devices such as iPads and smartphones. Observation data is uploaded to and hosted on a secure Teachscape platform and allows instructional leaders to collect and track instructional data about teaching practice and implement targeted, differentiated professional development.

“Teachscape Classroom Walkthrough, in conjunction with the Teachscape Professional Learning Suite is going to revolutionize how we engage our teachers in professional development in a very reflective and transparent way,” said David Cintron, principal of P.S. 214, The Lorrain Hansberry Academy in New York City. “The Classroom Walkthrough software will allow us to provide teachers with clear data-driven feedback in a timely manner and develop a common language for best practices. Based on this data, we will deliver professional development through the online courses offered in the Professional Learning Suite.”

Teachscape’s online Professional Learning Suite offers supplemental support by providing content on more than 40 topics from literacy to math to English language learning, and includes authentic classroom video and featured experts, interactive tools, and classroom resources. This online course library supports targeted, job-embedded development of teacher and leader knowledge and skills.