Teachers have to face a wide variety of challenges on a daily basis. They have to teach, prepare their lessons, be active in extra curricular activities, mark homework and motivate their learners. They have to make do with constant shortages and they have to deal with large classes. Many teachers simply do not have the time or opportunity to grow professionally. However, instructional school rounds can play a vital role in exposing teachers to new ideas.
The system is straight forward and very easy to implement. A small group of teachers gather to observe a lesson given by a colleague. That colleague is normally someone well regarded. The visiting teachers simply attend the class and observe. The idea is to learn from the colleague giving the lesson, not to participate in any way. These sessions are voluntary and nobody is ever forced to agree to be observed.
Observers meet before they attend a lesson. The aim of this meeting is to decide on the objectives that they hope to achieve during the observation session. These objectives often focus on issues with which the teacher under observation is regarded as very good. A teacher may be well known for his ability to use practical examples to explain difficult theoretical or abstract concepts. The observers will then focus on that element of his teaching during the session.
The teacher being observed is never evaluated in any way. This will defeat the purpose of these sessions. The students are also informed that the visitors to their class is there to learn, not to judge. Observers never participate in the classroom activities. Observers therefore never provide feedback to the teacher under observation, although he may ask for some form of feedback.
After each session, the observers meet once more. The purpose of this meeting is to share the lessons learned, the ideas generated and their thoughts on how to implement change in their own classrooms with each other. During this meeting no criticism is allowed and no report, verbal or written, is submitted. Observers are expected to keep the discussions during this meeting as confidential.
Observation systems are widespread and are now even in use at some universities and colleges. Teachers and other educators maintain that they learn a lot from these sessions. Even the individuals under observation benefit because they are publicly acknowledged as accomplished professionals. Of course, students also benefit from renewal in the classroom and in this way the entire system of education is improved.
There are critics of the system, of course. They reckon that the observation sessions are too short to be of real value to the observers. They also say that teachers under observation do not teach as they normally do but rather make a special effort to impress their colleagues. Supporters of the system remain positive, however, that they learn a lot and that the system is worth supporting and even made mandatory.
One thing is certain and that is that observation sessions have no negative impact at all. Any effort to improve the quality of education should be supported wholeheartedly. It is one of the most economical ways in which to allow teachers to grow professionally. The system is easy to implement and to manage.
The system is straight forward and very easy to implement. A small group of teachers gather to observe a lesson given by a colleague. That colleague is normally someone well regarded. The visiting teachers simply attend the class and observe. The idea is to learn from the colleague giving the lesson, not to participate in any way. These sessions are voluntary and nobody is ever forced to agree to be observed.
Observers meet before they attend a lesson. The aim of this meeting is to decide on the objectives that they hope to achieve during the observation session. These objectives often focus on issues with which the teacher under observation is regarded as very good. A teacher may be well known for his ability to use practical examples to explain difficult theoretical or abstract concepts. The observers will then focus on that element of his teaching during the session.
The teacher being observed is never evaluated in any way. This will defeat the purpose of these sessions. The students are also informed that the visitors to their class is there to learn, not to judge. Observers never participate in the classroom activities. Observers therefore never provide feedback to the teacher under observation, although he may ask for some form of feedback.
After each session, the observers meet once more. The purpose of this meeting is to share the lessons learned, the ideas generated and their thoughts on how to implement change in their own classrooms with each other. During this meeting no criticism is allowed and no report, verbal or written, is submitted. Observers are expected to keep the discussions during this meeting as confidential.
Observation systems are widespread and are now even in use at some universities and colleges. Teachers and other educators maintain that they learn a lot from these sessions. Even the individuals under observation benefit because they are publicly acknowledged as accomplished professionals. Of course, students also benefit from renewal in the classroom and in this way the entire system of education is improved.
There are critics of the system, of course. They reckon that the observation sessions are too short to be of real value to the observers. They also say that teachers under observation do not teach as they normally do but rather make a special effort to impress their colleagues. Supporters of the system remain positive, however, that they learn a lot and that the system is worth supporting and even made mandatory.
One thing is certain and that is that observation sessions have no negative impact at all. Any effort to improve the quality of education should be supported wholeheartedly. It is one of the most economical ways in which to allow teachers to grow professionally. The system is easy to implement and to manage.
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