There can be no doubt that the entire educational system is in a crisis. There are not enough resources. Teachers have to deal with very large classes and they often have to deal with disciplinary problems. The administrative load is heavy and they have to show support for extra curricular activities. This is all apart from their primary jobs, to teach. Luckily, with school based instructional rounds teachers get a chance to learn and to become better in their jobs.
Implementing such a system is easy and it does not require any form of funding. It is not a complicated system. Small groups of teachers visit a colleague to observe him presenting a lesson. This teacher under observation is normally a well respected and experienced educator known for achieving excellent results. The purpose of the observers is to learn from him. The system is always voluntary.
Before attending a session, the observers meet in order to discuss the forthcoming visit and to set some goals. Observation sessions are short so the observers try to focus on one or two aspects only, normally the known strong points of the teacher under observation. He may be known, for example, for the excellent way in which he uses multimedia in his class. The session will then focus on that aspect of his teaching.
Observation sessions should never be confused with evaluation exercises. Observers do not evaluate the teacher that they observe. The sole purpose of the session is to learn. Everyone involved, including the students, are informed of this fact. The observers may take notes but they do not participate in the class activities at all, regardless. They do not provide any feedback either.
The observers meet for a second time after the observation session. This time the goal is to share the lessons that they have learnt with each other and to debate ideas on how to improve their own teaching methods by implementing those lessons. No observer is allowed to voice criticism in any form and no report, formal or informal is made to anyone. In addition, the meeting is viewed as strictly confidential.
The vast majority of teachers participating in observation sessions report that they definitely benefit. The sessions not only expose them to the teaching methods of respected colleagues, but also allow them to get to know their own colleagues a little better. These sessions are extremely popular and have even been implemented in many institutions of higher learning. The general agreement is that they help to improve educational standards.
There are always critics of any system. In this case they say that these session are of very little value because they are too short and not held often enough. They also reckon that the teachers being observed are sorely tempted to adjust their teaching styles in order to make a good impression on their colleagues. The only way in which to develop teachers professionally is by means of formal courses, they say.
The fact remains that observation sessions are virtually free, simple to implement and very popular. Experts agree that they do make a difference. Anything that strive towards bettering the educational system and its standards should be supported and underwritten.
Implementing such a system is easy and it does not require any form of funding. It is not a complicated system. Small groups of teachers visit a colleague to observe him presenting a lesson. This teacher under observation is normally a well respected and experienced educator known for achieving excellent results. The purpose of the observers is to learn from him. The system is always voluntary.
Before attending a session, the observers meet in order to discuss the forthcoming visit and to set some goals. Observation sessions are short so the observers try to focus on one or two aspects only, normally the known strong points of the teacher under observation. He may be known, for example, for the excellent way in which he uses multimedia in his class. The session will then focus on that aspect of his teaching.
Observation sessions should never be confused with evaluation exercises. Observers do not evaluate the teacher that they observe. The sole purpose of the session is to learn. Everyone involved, including the students, are informed of this fact. The observers may take notes but they do not participate in the class activities at all, regardless. They do not provide any feedback either.
The observers meet for a second time after the observation session. This time the goal is to share the lessons that they have learnt with each other and to debate ideas on how to improve their own teaching methods by implementing those lessons. No observer is allowed to voice criticism in any form and no report, formal or informal is made to anyone. In addition, the meeting is viewed as strictly confidential.
The vast majority of teachers participating in observation sessions report that they definitely benefit. The sessions not only expose them to the teaching methods of respected colleagues, but also allow them to get to know their own colleagues a little better. These sessions are extremely popular and have even been implemented in many institutions of higher learning. The general agreement is that they help to improve educational standards.
There are always critics of any system. In this case they say that these session are of very little value because they are too short and not held often enough. They also reckon that the teachers being observed are sorely tempted to adjust their teaching styles in order to make a good impression on their colleagues. The only way in which to develop teachers professionally is by means of formal courses, they say.
The fact remains that observation sessions are virtually free, simple to implement and very popular. Experts agree that they do make a difference. Anything that strive towards bettering the educational system and its standards should be supported and underwritten.
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