What is essential for understanding the effectiveness of a teaching method?

Feedback from assessments and classroom observations is essential for understanding the effectiveness of a teaching method because it provides concrete evidence of student learning and engagement. Assessments can offer quantitative data on student comprehension and skills mastery, while classroom observations can give qualitative insights into the dynamics of the learning environment, student interactions, and instructional strategies used by the teacher. This comprehensive approach allows educators to identify strengths and weaknesses in their teaching methods, make data-informed adjustments, and ultimately enhance the learning experience for students. By combining these sources of feedback, teachers can gauge the impact of their instructional practices more reliably than relying solely on grades, opinions, or personal beliefs.