Using IRIS Connect to ensure sustainable improvements in learning and teaching at Shelfield Academy - Phil Smith's presentation from the Midlands Community Conference, December 2013

1. Using IRIS to ensure sustainable improvements in
learning and teaching.
Integrating IRIS Connect into effective staff
development.

2. From The Beginning
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How do we create sustainable
improvement in learning and
teaching?
How do we make lesson
observations a meaningful and
supportive experience that
ensures progress as well as
judgement?
How do we personalise
training in pedagogical
practice?
How do we share effective
practice across the
curriculum?
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How do we create a culture of
greater reflection and
collaboration?
How do we help staff
understand what ‘Outstanding’
looks like?
How do we support staff who
struggle to make changes in
their practice?
How can we develop
collaboration with institutions
outside of the Academy?

3. Building Blocks To Progress
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Personalised feedback
prioritised.
Focus on CPD to support
learning and teaching and the
sharing of good practice.
Implement 10/20 peer
observations.
Opportunities for accredited
CPD linked to learning
projects.
Development of NQT & +1
programme, including annual
conference and NQT
residential.
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Paired observations for
standardisation of judgement
and quality of feedback.
Greater ownership of lesson
observations through ‘The
Suite’
Implementing a coaching
scheme
Training courses specific to the
needs of staff (ITP and OTP)

4. From A Stick To A Carrot
Approach
• Observations: developmental
v judgmental.
• Investing in staff: wanting to
be better, learning how to be
better.
• Utilising excellence within our
own Academy
• Observations without fear:
giving more control over who,
what and when.
• Help me: personalised
coaching and CPD

5. The comments are time marked on
the video so that when clicking on
the comment, you are moved to the
part of the observation it refers to.
You can capture
clear images,
move the
camera and
zoom in to
focus on
groups, or out to
view the whole
class.
E:PresentationsSample_video.swf
Comments can be added during live
observations or after. You are also able to
have dialogues between the observer and
observee which can form the basis of
feedback discussions.

6. The Power of Informality
• Staff licence: every teacher has full
control.
• What about me? Enabling staff to
becoming self-evaluating.
• Collaboration: a learning dialogue
• Using forms: providing focus and clarity..
• Seeing is believing: ‘I know what I should
do, but what does it look like?’

7. Utilising IRIS
• All staff have personal log-ins to the
system.
• Encouraging peer observation for
development: staff have the control.
• All NQTs will use IRIS as part of their
induction programme.
• Integral part of personalised coaching
• Building a library of outstanding practice.
• Providing evidence for appraisal

8. Outstanding Learning
• An open and supportive approach
• Observations for learning, not just judging.
• ‘I never knew I did that!’ – modify behaviours
through IRIS.
• Integrated into induction – caring and sharing.
Create a meaningful dialogue to ensure
progress.
• Prevention and intervention: support not
sanction.
• Building a library of outstanding practice.

9. IRIS to develop learning