Regular classroom observations combined with meaningful faculty dialogue and professional development can have a positive impact on instructional quality and school culture. iWalkthrough™ harnesses the power of classroom observations by putting advanced technologies in the hands of educators. Engineered to help administrators and teachers make more informed decisions about teaching and learning, iWalkthrough provides both real-time and long-term feedback that can track instructional improvements over time.
iWalkthrough utilizes handheld computers and a secure online database to easily gather and archive information on classroom instruction—no paperwork required. But collecting and cataloging data is only the first step. The sophisticated reporting system allows educators to generate customized reports that can easily sort, compare, and visually display an enormous amount of information with only a few clicks of the mouse. Comprehensive reports, as well as an array of supporting materials and protocols, are used to target professional development where it is needed most.
iWalkthrough is compatible with nearly any portable electronic device, including Palm® and Windows CE® handhelds, Tablet PCs, and smart phones. Unlike software applications that are downloaded onto individual computers, the secure iWalkthrough server ensures that information methodically collected over months or years will not be lost if a computer crashes. Schools have reliable and confidential 24-hour access to their data, and the password-protected reporting system can be used by one or dozens of staff members. The iWalkthrough system was designed for versatility, giving educators the flexibility to work how they want, when they want.
Developed by a team of experienced educators in collaboration with hundreds of schools and teachers, and field tested in thousands of classrooms, iWalkthrough is the only technology-driven portfolio of tools available that has been designed to help schools refine instructional practices in the classroom.
Today's educators are busy people, and it's difficult to find time for meaningful professional dialogue and reflection with colleagues. Teachers have the best interests of their students in mind, and they all want to grow and improve as professionals. The same goes for school administrators. Every principal wants to be an informed instructional leader, but observing every teacher and classroom is a time-consuming process. iWalkthrough fits easily into busy schedules, decreasing process time and minimizing the impact on workloads. The portable tools and hands-on nature of the process encourage principals to be more active participants in the instructional life of their school, while fostering a greater administrative understanding of school-wide curricula, instruction, and assessment.
The hundreds of snapshot observations collected by the iWalkthrough system—over weeks, months, and even years—capture prevailing instructional patterns and trends within a school. Although the duration of each observation is relatively short—usually three minutes—the data profile generated over time provides a wealth of detailed information about teaching and learning.