Teachers are under tremendous pressure. They often have to work under difficult, even dangerous conditions. They seldom have all the resources they need to do their jobs properly. They have to cope with very large classes and they often work in isolation. In addition, the fact that the entire educational system is under such tremendous pressure means that teacher seldom get the opportunity to attend seminars and training sessions. Instructional rounds, however, do create opportunities for professional development.
The concept is simple and straightforward. A small group of teachers, under the leadership of a senior colleague attend the class of another teacher that is deemed experienced and innovative. The observers do not take any part in the classroom activities. They are simply focused on observing and on making notes. No teacher is ever forced to agree to being observed or even to attend an observation session.
Although the sessions are not rigorously structured, observers still meet before attending a session. In this meeting they agree on specific goals and the classroom activities that they want to focus on. Teachers being observed are often known for a particular talent or skill and observers will typically focus on that talent or skill during the observation session, hoping to develop similar talents and skills.
Experts are quick to point out that these observation sessions should never be confused with any for of student or teacher evaluation. They have only one purpose and that it is to impart teaching skills and techniques. For this reason, feedback is seldom given after a session and then only if the teacher under observation requests feedback. Care is also taken to make sure that students understand the purpose of such sessions.
After observation sessions, observers meet again. This meeting is confidential and no formal notes or reports are drawn up. The purpose of this meeting is to consolidate the lessons learnt during the observation session. The observers share their notes and they discuss ways in which they can improve their own performance in the classroom by applying ideas and techniques that they observed during the session.
Observation sessions offer many benefits. Participants agree that they learn valuable lessons from their experienced colleagues and that they are often inspired by them. This, in turn, lead to better teaching methods and more innovation in the classroom and the learners reap the benefits of these improvements. Teachers being observed are also often motivated by the recognition they are given by their fellow teachers.
Critics of the system say that these sessions are a waste of time because they are too short and too informal. Many critics also say that teachers under observation make a special effort to impress their colleagues and that observers never see them as they truly are in the classroom. The system nevertheless remains very popular with teachers who feel that any opportunity to learn should be grabbed with both hands.
A solid, reliable educational system is one of the main cornerstones of any healthy society. As with every other profession, there are more experienced and less experienced teachers. Learning from the more experienced teachers makes simple sense. Observation sessions are easy to organize and it seems as if teachers benefit.
The concept is simple and straightforward. A small group of teachers, under the leadership of a senior colleague attend the class of another teacher that is deemed experienced and innovative. The observers do not take any part in the classroom activities. They are simply focused on observing and on making notes. No teacher is ever forced to agree to being observed or even to attend an observation session.
Although the sessions are not rigorously structured, observers still meet before attending a session. In this meeting they agree on specific goals and the classroom activities that they want to focus on. Teachers being observed are often known for a particular talent or skill and observers will typically focus on that talent or skill during the observation session, hoping to develop similar talents and skills.
Experts are quick to point out that these observation sessions should never be confused with any for of student or teacher evaluation. They have only one purpose and that it is to impart teaching skills and techniques. For this reason, feedback is seldom given after a session and then only if the teacher under observation requests feedback. Care is also taken to make sure that students understand the purpose of such sessions.
After observation sessions, observers meet again. This meeting is confidential and no formal notes or reports are drawn up. The purpose of this meeting is to consolidate the lessons learnt during the observation session. The observers share their notes and they discuss ways in which they can improve their own performance in the classroom by applying ideas and techniques that they observed during the session.
Observation sessions offer many benefits. Participants agree that they learn valuable lessons from their experienced colleagues and that they are often inspired by them. This, in turn, lead to better teaching methods and more innovation in the classroom and the learners reap the benefits of these improvements. Teachers being observed are also often motivated by the recognition they are given by their fellow teachers.
Critics of the system say that these sessions are a waste of time because they are too short and too informal. Many critics also say that teachers under observation make a special effort to impress their colleagues and that observers never see them as they truly are in the classroom. The system nevertheless remains very popular with teachers who feel that any opportunity to learn should be grabbed with both hands.
A solid, reliable educational system is one of the main cornerstones of any healthy society. As with every other profession, there are more experienced and less experienced teachers. Learning from the more experienced teachers makes simple sense. Observation sessions are easy to organize and it seems as if teachers benefit.
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