At this point a few weeks into the school year, teachers covered by the new evaluation and development system have a few tasks to start or complete: consider possible artifacts to submit during the year; select an observation option and schedule an initial planning conference if these haven’t already been done; and keep a file of documents that record your decisions and work related to your evaluation.

Debbie Cregan, the chapter leader at PS 69 in Jackson Heights, said one question she gets a lot is: “What is an artifact anyway?”

“Artifact,” Cregan tells teachers, “is just a five-dollar word for sample.”

The term “artifact” may be new to them, but the practice of creating them isn’t, she tells teachers: “Take a walk around your room. Look at the things you do, the instructional and classroom management materials you create and use. You’ve been doing these things for years.”

Many teachers have also asked Cregan if they are required to submit two artifacts at their initial conference. Some worried that their artifacts early in the year may not cover as many Danielson components as artifacts they will have created months from now.

Don’t worry, Cregan tells them. Teachers aren’t required to submit artifacts at the initial planning conference or, for that matter, to submit any at all during the year.

If they choose to submit artifacts, “as the year goes on, they will have artifacts that are more expansive and reflective of their work throughout the year,” she tells her members.

Joseph Surpris, the chapter leader at IS 68 in Brooklyn, said he also gets questions on artifacts.

Initially, teachers at his school in Canarsie thought all the artifacts were going to be student work, Surpris said. “I told them that an assessment they created could be an artifact; it doesn’t have to have a score. I told them some of the written contact they have with parents can also be used. That reassured them a lot.”

Surpris and other chapter leaders said that many members also ask them to recommend one observation option over another.

Surpris said he tells members that it depends on their personal preferences: “If you’re someone who always has it together” and is comfortable with unannounced classroom visits, you could pick option 2, he says. “If you like to have more control, you could go with option 1.”

Noel Warshaw, the chapter leader at PS 127 in East Elmhurst, said that in addition to helping to answer members’ questions, he offers a bit of advice. “Record keeping is of the utmost importance,” Warshaw tells members. “I suggest to teachers to keep professional files” of documents they may want to refer to later in the evaluation process.