A validation process for observation protocols: Using the Revised SMPs Look-for Protocol as a lens on teachers’ promotion of the standards

ABSTRACT

The Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs) describe mathematical behaviors and habits that students should express during mathematics instruction. Thus teachers should promote them during classroom-based mathematics instruction. The purpose of this article is to discuss the validation process for an observation protocol called the Revised SMPs Look-for Protocol. An implication of this study is that users with a robust understanding of the SMPs may feel confident using the protocol as a validated and reliable tool in research and school-based settings. We discuss opportunities and challenges for mathematics teacher educators engaging in classroom observations, in light of this observation protocol.

KEYWORDS:

• K-12
• observation protocol
• standards
• teachers
• validation

Funding

This work was support by two generous Mathematics-Science Partnership grants from the Ohio Department of Education, #062839.

Notes

¹ This manuscript is supported by multiple grants from two funding agencies. Any opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of these agencies.

² The authors are especially grateful to Skip Fennell, Elizabeth Kobett, and Jon Wray for their ideas and work on the initial version of the Standards for Mathematical Practice Look-for Protocol as well as the Revised Standards for Mathematical Practice Look-for Protocol.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ohio Department of Education [062893] and Ohio Department of Education [062893].