Teachers often have to do their work under very difficult circumstances. They seldom have all the resources that they need, they have to cope with large classes and they have numerous administrative responsibilities on top of their teaching duty. Meetings and extra curricular activities consume even more time. There is no time to develop professionally. Luckily, if there is an experienced teacher leading instructional rounds, teachers can learn a lot from each other.
It is truly easy to implement this system. En experienced teacher act as leader and gather a small group of less experienced teachers to visit the classroom of an esteemed colleague to see how he teaches. The purpose of the observation session is solely to learn from that teacher. The observers do not participate in the class in any way and nobody is forced to be part of the system.
The leader of the observing group will chair a meeting before each session. During this meeting they set certain goals for the observation session. Teachers being observed are normally chosen because they are known for their excellence in specific areas. The goals for the observation session will then concentrate upon those areas of excellence. No teacher is forced to participate as either observer or to be the one being observed.
There is no question of evaluation during observation sessions. That would defy the entire idea of the system altogether. Observers do no score, they do not criticize and they do not evaluate. They learn, that is all. They observe and try to improve themselves in the process. That is the only purpose. To this end, observers never provide feedback to the teacher that they observed.
The leader of the observers will chair another meeting soon after the observation session. This time the purpose of the meeting is to compare notes. No criticism is allowed. Instead, observers share with each other the lessons that they have learnt and their ideas on how to implement them in their own classrooms. This meeting is deemed to be confidential and no report is ever submitted.
Participants in these observation systems are very positive about it. They say that they learn a lot and that they get a chance to interact with professional colleagues. As a result the system has been implemented everywhere and schools even have observer teams visit each other. Colleges and other educational institutions have also caught on. There are numerous benefits including professional development and improved motivation that leads to better teaching.
The system does have its critics. They are of the opinion that these observation sessions are far too short and that they achieve nothing concrete. In their opinion teachers should rather attend formal development programs because observation sessions are too informal. They also say that teachers under observation try to impress their colleagues and they therefore do not teach the way that they normally do.
Observation sessions are easy to implement and they do not cost anything. If they help teachers to remain motivated and to learn from each other, they should be encouraged. Every effort to improve the quality of education is worth it. Everybody benefits from even the smallest improvements in the overall system.
It is truly easy to implement this system. En experienced teacher act as leader and gather a small group of less experienced teachers to visit the classroom of an esteemed colleague to see how he teaches. The purpose of the observation session is solely to learn from that teacher. The observers do not participate in the class in any way and nobody is forced to be part of the system.
The leader of the observing group will chair a meeting before each session. During this meeting they set certain goals for the observation session. Teachers being observed are normally chosen because they are known for their excellence in specific areas. The goals for the observation session will then concentrate upon those areas of excellence. No teacher is forced to participate as either observer or to be the one being observed.
There is no question of evaluation during observation sessions. That would defy the entire idea of the system altogether. Observers do no score, they do not criticize and they do not evaluate. They learn, that is all. They observe and try to improve themselves in the process. That is the only purpose. To this end, observers never provide feedback to the teacher that they observed.
The leader of the observers will chair another meeting soon after the observation session. This time the purpose of the meeting is to compare notes. No criticism is allowed. Instead, observers share with each other the lessons that they have learnt and their ideas on how to implement them in their own classrooms. This meeting is deemed to be confidential and no report is ever submitted.
Participants in these observation systems are very positive about it. They say that they learn a lot and that they get a chance to interact with professional colleagues. As a result the system has been implemented everywhere and schools even have observer teams visit each other. Colleges and other educational institutions have also caught on. There are numerous benefits including professional development and improved motivation that leads to better teaching.
The system does have its critics. They are of the opinion that these observation sessions are far too short and that they achieve nothing concrete. In their opinion teachers should rather attend formal development programs because observation sessions are too informal. They also say that teachers under observation try to impress their colleagues and they therefore do not teach the way that they normally do.
Observation sessions are easy to implement and they do not cost anything. If they help teachers to remain motivated and to learn from each other, they should be encouraged. Every effort to improve the quality of education is worth it. Everybody benefits from even the smallest improvements in the overall system.
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