Episode description

For our sixth episode this season, we will focus on the Observation Protocol for Teaching in Interactive Classrooms, also known as the OPTIC app. OPTIC is an observation tool for the coaching and mentoring of learner-centered practitioners who use collaborative small groups, experienced practitioners to obtain feedback on their facilitating, administrators to aid in the evaluation of faculty who participate in learner-centered collaborative teaching styles, and the documentation of collaborative small-group learning in a learner-centered classroom.

Today, Co-host Wayne Pearson (who is a retired chemistry professor from the U.S. Naval Academy) will interview two POGIL practitioners behind the creation of the OPTIC App: Urik Halliday, a high school science educator for the Chicago Public Schools, has worked at Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center for the past fourteen years, and Shannon Wachowski, who was most recently with the Wyoming Department of Education where she supported Wyoming science teachers with science standards implementation and assessment. Enjoy the conversation!