Teachers have a tough time. Teaching conditions are difficult because of very large classes, many disciplinary problems, a huge administrative burden and extremely limited resources. On top of this, the very heavy work load carried by tea hers makes it very difficult to attend courses and to interact with other professionals in their field. This can easily lead to stagnation. However, with a system of instructional rounds teachers can be motivated anew.
The entire concept is uncomplicated. It simply means that a small group of teachers arrange to observe another teacher, normally a senior teacher with a very good reputation and lots of experience, in action in the classroom. The observers are led by an experienced senior teacher. The observers do not take part in the teaching process and they do not interfere with the lesson. Their role is to simply observe and to make notes.
Observation sessions are informal but there are clear goals. Prior to the session, the observers meet and decide upon those goals. In most cases, the teacher being observed has a reputation for excellence in one or more fields and the goal normally centres on those strengths. For example, the goal may be to learn just how the observed teacher manages to maintain discipline in the classroom.
These observation sessions have nothing to do with evaluation. The teacher being observed is not is not in the firing line. The whole idea is to learn from the teacher in action. In fact, observers normally choose very experienced and successful teachers to observe. After the observation session no feedback is give to the teacher concerned but it may be given if it is requested specifically.
After each observation session the observer teachers meet again. This meeting focuses upon the lesson that they have learned. During this meeting no criticism against the observed teacher is allowed. They also share ideas on how to implement those lessons in their own classrooms. Observers never submit a report and they never discuss the observation session with other teachers, learners or school management.
These observation sessions offer numerous advantages. They allow teachers to learn from each other and they allow experienced teachers to share their techniques and methods. In the process, everybody benefits. The students benefit from newly inspired teachers, the teachers benefit because they have the chance to grow professional and the entire educational system benefit because the quality of teaching is improved.
Detractors of this system say that it does not achieve anything because the observation sessions are too short, because the teachers being observed make a special effort to impress their colleagues and because the entire system does not make provision for official feedback. However, teachers seem to love the idea and they normally partake gladly. Students too, seems to like observation sessions.
There can be no doubt that all professionals, regardless of the field within which they work, learn from each other. Efforts to create opportunity for such learning experiences should be applauded. In addition, any initiative to increase the quality of education should enjoy the support of learners, teachers, school governing bodies and the public at large.
The entire concept is uncomplicated. It simply means that a small group of teachers arrange to observe another teacher, normally a senior teacher with a very good reputation and lots of experience, in action in the classroom. The observers are led by an experienced senior teacher. The observers do not take part in the teaching process and they do not interfere with the lesson. Their role is to simply observe and to make notes.
Observation sessions are informal but there are clear goals. Prior to the session, the observers meet and decide upon those goals. In most cases, the teacher being observed has a reputation for excellence in one or more fields and the goal normally centres on those strengths. For example, the goal may be to learn just how the observed teacher manages to maintain discipline in the classroom.
These observation sessions have nothing to do with evaluation. The teacher being observed is not is not in the firing line. The whole idea is to learn from the teacher in action. In fact, observers normally choose very experienced and successful teachers to observe. After the observation session no feedback is give to the teacher concerned but it may be given if it is requested specifically.
After each observation session the observer teachers meet again. This meeting focuses upon the lesson that they have learned. During this meeting no criticism against the observed teacher is allowed. They also share ideas on how to implement those lessons in their own classrooms. Observers never submit a report and they never discuss the observation session with other teachers, learners or school management.
These observation sessions offer numerous advantages. They allow teachers to learn from each other and they allow experienced teachers to share their techniques and methods. In the process, everybody benefits. The students benefit from newly inspired teachers, the teachers benefit because they have the chance to grow professional and the entire educational system benefit because the quality of teaching is improved.
Detractors of this system say that it does not achieve anything because the observation sessions are too short, because the teachers being observed make a special effort to impress their colleagues and because the entire system does not make provision for official feedback. However, teachers seem to love the idea and they normally partake gladly. Students too, seems to like observation sessions.
There can be no doubt that all professionals, regardless of the field within which they work, learn from each other. Efforts to create opportunity for such learning experiences should be applauded. In addition, any initiative to increase the quality of education should enjoy the support of learners, teachers, school governing bodies and the public at large.
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