By Cotsen Foundation for the ART of TEACHING staff –
Every year for the past five, we at the Cotsen Foundation for the ART of TEACHING take a step back from the work we do in support of developing gifted teachers and artful teaching in order to assess the perception of the ART of TEACHING program among current fellows.
Similarly, over the last three years, we have reached out to our alumni, asking them to reflect on the effectiveness of their teaching prior to participating in the ART of TEACHING and at the present moment.
Year after year, our survey results pertaining to both fellows and alumni have been consistently positive, demonstrating to us that the impact of our program is strong, valuable, immediate, and enduring.
We are pleased to say that the results of our 2011 survey are no exception. This year, our fellows revealed they are committed to continuing the work on their own even after their two-year fellowship comes to an end, and expressed their strong belief in the program’s impact in the following areas:
- The ART of TEACHING program improves their ability to instruct
- Fellows are more able to inspire their students
- The ART of TEACHING program increases their passion for teaching
- By expanding their repertoire of teaching methods, as a result of the program, fellows can significantly affect students’ achievement level
- Fellows’ expectations for students’ learning have been increasing
Alumni respondents were equally pleased with the program, even after years have passed since their participation. Many felt their effectiveness as teachers after the ART of TEACHING program surpassed their effectiveness prior to it, noting a sustained increase in:
- The artfulness or excellence of their teaching
- Their knowledge of subject content
- Their students’ mastery of appropriate content and skills
- Their collaboration with and learning from colleagues
We are grateful to our fellows and alumni for taking part in our surveys and for their dedication to the ART of TEACHING. For a detailed look at past and present survey results, we invite you to view our Participant Surveys here.