Indian School Muscat teachers take evaluation test

Muscat: Teachers setting question papers, invigilating tests and evaluating answer scripts of students are a common sight in any educational institution.
But recently at ISM, it was the teachers who took a test in subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as part of ASSET – TAT, Assessment of Scholastic Skills through Educational Testing – Teacher Assessment Tool, a test meant to assess teachers on their content knowledge and pedagogical skills, designed and conducted by “Educational Initiatives”.
A total of 125 teachers across primary, middle and senior schools took up this online Teacher Evaluation tool at ISM, an educational institution that gives due importance to teacher training.
The September 26 test was for teachers handling students from classes three to nine. Based on the scores obtained by the teachers in these tests, the areas where they need support will be identified and training programmes will be conducted to strengthen those areas.
Questions in pedagogical skills are designed to check the understanding of common pedagogical practices and beliefs about student-learning such as understanding of key ideas and connections, understanding children’s thinking, developing good quality assessments, strategies to help children learn and the implementation aspects of teaching. Questions under content knowledge aim to check a teacher’s grasp of the content and conceptual understanding, and tests cognitive domains such as knowledge, understanding and application.
The Principal of Indian School Muscat, Dr. Rajeev Kumar Chauhan, emphasised the need for teachers to take the ASSET- TATAnchor.
The results of a Training Needs Analysis are to ensure that teacher-training becomes a targeted and effective activity. We can find out exactly what teachers need to know about the achievement of organisational goals, where the current content is missing the mark and how we can deliver consistent training to keep the skill base of teachers afloat.
The views of John Rampton coincide with the vision of having the teachers participate in the ASSET – TAT: “Empowerment isn’t a buzzword among leadership gurus. It’s a proven technique where leaders give their teams the appropriate training, tools, resources and guidance to succeed.”