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 has been designed to afford teachers the opportunity to learn from colleagues that are more experienced and who have proven themselves. It is a simple system that can be implemented at any school. A few teachers gather and then attend a class presented by a well respected colleague. The purpose of the exercise is to learn from that teacher under observation. At present participation is voluntary.
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.
There is never any element of evaluation during these sessions. It is made clear to the students as well. The observers do not give feedback but may do so if the teacher under observation ask for it. The only purpose of observation sessions is to learn and to garner new ideas with the aim of improving on a personal and professional level.
Another meeting is held directly after an observation session. Observers then share the lessons that they have learned and the ideas that they have developed for improving their own teaching methods. They also discuss the practicality of introducing new ideas in their classrooms. No observer is permitted to criticise the teacher that was under observation. This meeting is strictly confidential and the observers never compile a report.
Learning from well respected teachers have become a widespread practice and teachers even observe colleagues from other schools. Feedback from those that have been observed and those that acted as observers have been very positive. Those being observed are motivated by the fact that they have received acknowledgement and observers are able to improve their own teaching techniques. In this way the entire educational system benefits.
Critics of colleague observation sessions say that it is a waste of time. The sessions are far too short and teachers under observation do not act or teach as they normally do. Instead, they go to ridiculous lengths to make an impression upon their observer colleagues and in the process they make it impossible for observers to copy his techniques in their own classrooms.
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 has been designed to afford teachers the opportunity to learn from colleagues that are more experienced and who have proven themselves. It is a simple system that can be implemented at any school. A few teachers gather and then attend a class presented by a well respected colleague. The purpose of the exercise is to learn from that teacher under observation. At present participation is voluntary.
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.
There is never any element of evaluation during these sessions. It is made clear to the students as well. The observers do not give feedback but may do so if the teacher under observation ask for it. The only purpose of observation sessions is to learn and to garner new ideas with the aim of improving on a personal and professional level.
Another meeting is held directly after an observation session. Observers then share the lessons that they have learned and the ideas that they have developed for improving their own teaching methods. They also discuss the practicality of introducing new ideas in their classrooms. No observer is permitted to criticise the teacher that was under observation. This meeting is strictly confidential and the observers never compile a report.
Learning from well respected teachers have become a widespread practice and teachers even observe colleagues from other schools. Feedback from those that have been observed and those that acted as observers have been very positive. Those being observed are motivated by the fact that they have received acknowledgement and observers are able to improve their own teaching techniques. In this way the entire educational system benefits.
Critics of colleague observation sessions say that it is a waste of time. The sessions are far too short and teachers under observation do not act or teach as they normally do. Instead, they go to ridiculous lengths to make an impression upon their observer colleagues and in the process they make it impossible for observers to copy his techniques in their own classrooms.
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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