Chism, D. (2018, February). Excavating the Artifacts of Student Learning.

In examining the effectiveness of a lesson, educators and coaches need to go beyond the “Eye Test.” One of the mistakes often made in assessing teacher effectiveness is to rely on the “eye test” (observable practices by the teacher) and the “energy” level felt within the classroom. While there is merit to this approach, at the heart of authentic teaching is deep student learning as a by-product. Student learning is the most meaningful measure of all instructional practices and must remain the litmus test, or gateway, to determining future teacher practice. The intention, or objective, of the lesson is one of the most important things students can learn, and providing students a clear target for their learning is crucial to success.