Teachers often have to work under very difficult circumstances. They seldom get the chance to interact with colleagues and they often have to make do with very limited resources. Many teachers have to manage large classes and find it difficult to pay attention to the needs of every individual student. Many teachers complain that they do not get the chance to improve their skills and knowledge. Instructional rounds, however, can do much to ease the situation somewhat.
Implementing a system of teacher observations is within the abilities of any school. It simply consist of a small group of teachers that visit another teacher and observe his methods in his classroom. The observing teachers are led by someone that is well respected in the field of education. The teacher being observed is also normally a professional that is well regarded by his colleagues. Participation in such a system is always on a voluntary basis.
The observing teachers normally meet prior to the observation session. They decide upon specific objectives in order to ensure that the session has some sort of focus. In many instances the objectives will coincide with known strong points of the teacher being observed. For example, if the teacher has a reputation for maintaining good discipline in the classroom the observing teacher may resolve to focus on the ways in which he manages to maintain discipline.
It is important to understand that these observation sessions are not for the purpose of evaluation. The aim is for the observing teachers to learn from the teacher being observed. The students are informed of the forthcoming observation sessions and the reason for it. The teacher being observed is not given any feedback but he may request it.
After each observation session the observer teachers meet to discuss their experiences. This meeting is deemed to be confidential and no official report is ever submitted. The focus is on lessons learnt and not on criticizing the observed teacher in any way. The observers also share their ideas on how they will be implementing new ideas in their own classrooms. In this way innovation in the classroom can be achieved.
There are numerous benefits to be had in implementing a teacher observation system. Not only do teachers learn from experienced colleagues, but they also get to know each other better. The teachers are not the only ones to benefit. The students also benefit because they are the ones that will be receiving better instruction. In this way the entire educational system is improved and society as a whole benefits.
Critics say that these observation sessions are too short and too infrequent to have any value. They say that teachers scheduled for observation do not act as usual but that they are playing to their audience. These criticisms notwithstanding, educational experts agree that there is everything to gain for encouraging teachers to learn from each other and to share their experiences in the classroom.
Learning from experienced and well respected colleagues is as old as mankind itself. After all, that is where the apprentice system originated. Teachers willing to share their experience and teachers willing to learn from them can only help to improve the overall quality of education. That alone should be enough to keep motivating those that believe in teacher observation sessions.
Implementing a system of teacher observations is within the abilities of any school. It simply consist of a small group of teachers that visit another teacher and observe his methods in his classroom. The observing teachers are led by someone that is well respected in the field of education. The teacher being observed is also normally a professional that is well regarded by his colleagues. Participation in such a system is always on a voluntary basis.
The observing teachers normally meet prior to the observation session. They decide upon specific objectives in order to ensure that the session has some sort of focus. In many instances the objectives will coincide with known strong points of the teacher being observed. For example, if the teacher has a reputation for maintaining good discipline in the classroom the observing teacher may resolve to focus on the ways in which he manages to maintain discipline.
It is important to understand that these observation sessions are not for the purpose of evaluation. The aim is for the observing teachers to learn from the teacher being observed. The students are informed of the forthcoming observation sessions and the reason for it. The teacher being observed is not given any feedback but he may request it.
After each observation session the observer teachers meet to discuss their experiences. This meeting is deemed to be confidential and no official report is ever submitted. The focus is on lessons learnt and not on criticizing the observed teacher in any way. The observers also share their ideas on how they will be implementing new ideas in their own classrooms. In this way innovation in the classroom can be achieved.
There are numerous benefits to be had in implementing a teacher observation system. Not only do teachers learn from experienced colleagues, but they also get to know each other better. The teachers are not the only ones to benefit. The students also benefit because they are the ones that will be receiving better instruction. In this way the entire educational system is improved and society as a whole benefits.
Critics say that these observation sessions are too short and too infrequent to have any value. They say that teachers scheduled for observation do not act as usual but that they are playing to their audience. These criticisms notwithstanding, educational experts agree that there is everything to gain for encouraging teachers to learn from each other and to share their experiences in the classroom.
Learning from experienced and well respected colleagues is as old as mankind itself. After all, that is where the apprentice system originated. Teachers willing to share their experience and teachers willing to learn from them can only help to improve the overall quality of education. That alone should be enough to keep motivating those that believe in teacher observation sessions.
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