Beyond Barriers: Encouraging Teacher Use of Feedback Resources. A Report from the Teacher Feedback Resources Project

This report investigates factors that drive teachers to embrace or challenge the use of products and services designed to support improvements in practice. Key elements of the study include: (1) Technology-based resources studied include those designed for video observations, peer feedback and collaboration, online professional learning, and learning management platforms; (2) Though such resources offer teachers access to real-time data to support improvement, the use of such resources falls below expectations; (3) There were three phases to the study, from qualitative focus groups, to a survey, to case studies; and (4) Three case studies are included with the report to showcase district examples of resource implementation. Findings: Perceived barriers have minimal effect on use. Through the focus groups, researchers identified issues anticipated to affect implementation and use of technology-based resources: training and support, technical capacity issues, and motivation. The survey data indicated that those issues do not impede use for educators. Utility really does matter. Educators indicated that when a resource is useful, they use it. If it is not customizable, beneficial, or if it takes too much time, its use will not be sustained. While this finding may seem obvious, it is a reminder that the core value of the resource must remain the focus for both vendors and users. Change management and teacher engagement in decision making matter. District leaders take several approaches to implementing an innovation, and their approach makes a difference. They may mandate use, provide choice to use, allow use to grow organically, or design an approach that combines these variations. Implications: Based on the results of this study, researchers make the following four recommendations for increasing the use, scale, and impact of these products and services: (1) Create a clear vision and compelling purpose for full-scale adoption, including a well-articulated theory of change; (2) Approach adoption and use of the new product and service through a robust change management process; (3) Engage teachers in the decision-making process in authentic ways; and (4) Allocate adequate resources for capacity building including time, training, ongoing support, and technical assistance.