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"Several years ago, I was searching the Internet looking for articles on the concept of 'Wait Time' to help a teacher, and I discovered the EDUCATOR'S VIRTUAL MENTOR system. I was instantly hooked. Since then, I have introduced the EVM to the entire faculty. Each faculty member is assigned his or her own username and password. Throughout the school, the faculty, mentors, and individuals can focus specifically on one or more parameters to teaching to improve their instruction and, ultimately, student performance. When I write a teacher's evaluation it often includes a reference to an individual video clip. Together, teachers and I have watched video clips, analyzed teacher moves, and discussed best practices. This is very helpful to the visual learners. One of the unique features is that a teacher can watch another teacher who is teaching the same subject at the same level. I have found EVM to be one of the best tools an administrator can use to improve teaching and learning. I was so excited about this product that I shared it with all the administrators in the district. Thank you Woody and Rob!" "Educator's Virtual Mentor has provided the School of Education at Peru State College the opportunity to bring the classroom and what happens in it to life for our teacher candidates on a regular basis. Valuable
connections between course content and its important connection to the classroom add another critical dimension to our course of study in classroom management and effective teaching, lend credibility to our courses of study, and effectively enhance the important work of teacher preparation."
"The Educator's Virtual Mentor website is just what I was looking for. I use the Educator's Virtual Mentor during pre-observation and post-observation conferences,to supplement written evaluations. When a teacher can see an actual example of a suggestion about a parameter of teaching, and not just read about it in an evaluation report,the results have been tremendous."
"I personally feel as if the Educator's Virtual Mentor assists the administration. As I have become familiar with the site, I can suggest that teachers visit a specific concept to improve instruction, or to strengthen what they are already doing well. When I write up a walk through observation or a formal evaluation, I can discuss with the teacher what they are doing well, or what I believe they need to improve on, and the teacher can immediately go to the EVM website for growth or reinforcement. I find this makes my job as an educational leader more meaningful working with both master teachers and at risk teachers as well." "Education Virtual Mentor has allowed Stanton Community Schools to view and analyze a variety of educational topics. I have divided my secondary staff into small learning teams. We have set aside 30 minutes a month to review the website. It is not the quantity that we focus on, rather the quality. The individual group decides the topic and views the video clip together. At the conclusion of the video, there are probing questions to help stimulate dialogue amongst the members. It was our goal to create an opportunity for the staff to focus on best practice and application to the classroom. The power of these conversations is mind-boggling. Professional colleagues sharing and discussing helps the school impact the education of all students." "Educator's Virtual Mentor provides educators with excellent model lessons as well as the research behind the techniques being modeled. It is an excellent teaching and learning tool for teachers, paraprofessionals,
and administrators." Thank you so much for sharing the Educator's Virtual Mentor (EVM) with me. Immediately, I can see applications for both new and veteran teachers. I can offer teachers the opportunity to 'observe' quality teachers demonstrating specific teacher decisions and skills, which they could watch individually, or in pairs, and participate in the discussion questions in pairs or small groups! If I had a new or struggling teacher, I could set up video sessions for demonstration and discussion, without the hassles of scheduling with other teachers here, and without having anyone else here know what their colleague is struggling to learn/demonstrate." |
"Having Educator's Virtual Mentor available to every administrator and coordinator
in Lincoln Public Schools provides them with a valuable tool to use in their work
as instructional leaders. The video clips with accompanying research based
articles, and the questions, will assist them in reviewing strong instructional
practice with their staffs. An additional benefit will be the option to use EVM as
a remediation tool."
"I had no idea of how comprehensive the EDUCATOR'S VIRTUAL MENTOR system was in terms of grade level, content areas and research evidence to back up best teaching practices. Teaching kids today is as challenging as it ever has been but it can also be as rewarding as it ever was if we know how to engage learners. I could get real excited about what you have done and are doing to assist teachers and administrators to focus on the improvement of quality of the
teaching/learning process."
"Thanks so much for introducing my staff and me to the Educator's Virtual Mentor Program.
Not only will it be of great value to my teachers, most of them new to the profession, but it
will be a useful tool in the teacher evaluation process. Teachers can use the site on their
own time and really study the clips that are relevant to their personal needs. The research
and rubrics that support each clip are further aides that will enhance instruction in the
classroom. The clips support current best practices in teaching and are a quick, easy, and
non-threatening way to improve instruction. Ultimately it will be the students who benefit
from highly knowledgeable teachers."