Testimonials from Users
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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. "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."
"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." "In the day and age of accountability, everyone is trying to maximize staffs' time with students. We attempt to introduce new instructional strategies that will impact student learning. But do we have time to research and analyze what resources are available? As a leader, I have tried to move my staff meetings from focusing on managerial tasks to discussing instructional practices. As the principal, I need to be an instructional leader. Education Virtual Mentor has allowed Stanton Community Schools to view and analyze a variety of educational topics. "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 L4TF with me! This is a "way cool" site. I have become hooked on watching the videos. Immediately, I can see applications for both new and veteran teachers! Several years ago, Randolph's SIP lead a study group of the Saphier and Gower book, The Skillful Teacher. The following three years, our staff met to delve into the concepts (clarity, attention moves, teaching to the objective, feeback, etc.). We organized into triads: two teachers and one administrator. The teachers took turns observing one another's teaching (for the specified skill or concept) and the administrator was at the observation as a "color commentator", and to provide a cohesiveness among the partner teams of teachers. Only in situations where there is lots of trust built among teachers and between teachers with their administrators could such an idea be successful. And it was successful for us. Over the three years, the partnerships evolved to watching one another, sharing ideas, bouncing ideas and results off their partners, all without the admins' guidance. |
"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."