COI & My Feedback

Reflect Implement Transform

 What is COI?

As a diocese we are referring to ‘goal setting’ as Cycles Of Improvement because we believe this title more accurately describes the natural inclination of teachers to think through and plan for improvements to practice so each time a task is attempted better outcomes can be achieved. Cycles of Improvement (COI) is a diocesan designed process based on the elements in the Australian Teacher Performance and Development Framework (ATP & D Framework).

Why is it important?

A professional teacher continuously inquires into their effectiveness. Such a person recognises that teaching is both an individual and a collective activity and that high performing teachers rely on the team around them. Professionals plan, enjoy their achievements and seek to continuously improve student outcomes. COI uses the professional capital of school members to collectively build a better school.

There are many professional learning opportunities and people available to assist you improve your ability to work with Cycles of Improvement. Cycles of Improvement are part of our professional responsibility and not an added burden or a compliance issue. At its heart, COI is focused on improving the learning culture in the school.

A Culture of Improvement

Hargreaves believes that the best teachers deliberately learn how to get better because to stand still is to do a disservice to the students we teach. COI demands a culture of improvement in every school. COI aligns with the diocesan emphasis on Professional Learning Communities where we continually examine our connections, collegiality, cooperation and collaboration.

Be SMART

COI requires all of us to consider how our improvement plans or goals are selected, developed, implemented and reviewed. A useful acronym for this is SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. When constructing your Cycles of Improvement consider the SMART criteria.

Deciding on a Cycle of Improvement will require some considered staff, team and individual thought. It is necessary to engage in a degree of self-reflection at all levels and to discuss options with colleagues. In a Professional Learning Community there are others who will have views on what needs to be improved or attended to in the school or learning spaces. COI is primarily a collaborative activity which will involve a whole staff conversation as there are definite links to the school’s annual and strategic plans. Every teacher has a role to play in achieving the stated aims of the school and COI is a positive way to achieve real school improvement.

An Online tool

COI is completely online through the coi.lism.catholic.edu.au. Select the MY COI button on the home page. Your principal will have assigned you a support person who is able to assist you get started and who will take an interest in your COI progress.

The process we follow for COI and myfeedback include the following 7 steps

1.Reflect on current practice

Before you set a goal, take a closer look at what you’re trying to achieve and ask yourself the following questions: 

  • Is this goal something you truly want? 
  • Is it important enough to pour hours of time and effort into it? 

Knowing where you are now is the best way to move forward. Understanding the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, along with your pathway for improvement, is integral to your professional growth as a teacher. AITSL provides a range of resources for you to reflect on your practice and improve your teaching–regardless of your career stage .

2. Create SMART goals

Once you’ve zeroed in on what you actually want, ensure your goal meets the SMART criteria:

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Realistic
  • Time-bound

The most important part of SMART goal setting is to make your goal specific so you can clearly track your progress and know whether you met the goal. The more specific you can be with your goal, the higher the chance you’ll complete it.

For example, many people set goals to lose weight, but they don’t always decide how much weight they want to lose and when they want to accomplish this goal. A specific goal would be “I want to lose 25 pounds by the Fourth of July.” This goal provides an exact amount of weight to lose and an end date to do it by.

3. Write your goals down using COI

When you write your goals down, they become real and tangible instead of a vague idea that resides only in your mind.

4. Create an action plan using COI

Many people decide on a goal but never create an action plan to determine how exactly they will meet that goal. Your action plan should include the overall goal you’re trying to meet and all the steps you need to take to get there.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your action plan. Go back to your elementary school days, and get creative. Write out your goal using crayons, markers, or colored pencils, for example. According to Forbes, creating an action plan this way activates a different part of your brain and cements the goals in your mind.

For something more professional, use Lucidchart to create an organized, visual action plan.

6. Take action

Now that you’ve planned everything out, it’s time to take action. You didn’t go through all that work just to forget about your goal. Every step that you take should lead to another until you finish your goal.

7. Re-evaluate and assess your progress Feedback 

The research is clear: effective feedback practices can greatly improve student learning and teaching quality. Use these evidence-based, practical tools to introduce or enhance feedback in your setting.

Start setting goals again

The process of setting goals makes you succeed faster and more efficiently. It can fuel your ambition and help you achieve tangible results. A goal setting process will help you determine how to set goals that are specific, timely, and realistic.