There can be absolutely no doubt that teaching is a very demanding career. Teachers have numerous responsibilities. Their main focus, to teach, is often made very difficult by having to work with inadequate resources and numerous administrative responsibilities that claim a lot of their time. Large classes make it impossible to pay attention to the needs of individual learners. Within this demanding environment, many teachers have no time to spend on self development. Luckily, instructional rounds are there to address at least a part of this need.
This system is designed to provide a way in which a small group of teachers can learn from an experienced teacher. They do this by attending a class of the teacher under observation. The observers are expected to be unobtrusive. They are not allowed to participate in the lesson or to ask any questions. Their focus is to learn something from the teacher in action. This is always a voluntary system.
Observers always meet just before an observation session. In this meeting they set some goals for the session. Teachers selected for observation are normally deemed to be professionals that achieve excellent results. The observers therefore strive to focus on the techniques and methods used by this colleague to achieve their results. The teacher under observation is not part of this meeting.
The system cannot work if any of the role players, students, observers, administrators or those being observed, perceive the sessions as some form of evaluation. This may never be the case. The only aim of these sessions is for the observers to learn and to take away some constructive ideas that can help them to become better teachers themselves and to contribute towards the quality of education at their particular schools.
After the observation session the observers meet once more. This time the aim is to share the lessons that each observer has learned and the ideas that they got for the improvement of their own lessons. This discussion is considered to be strictly confidential and no report is ever submitted to anyone, not even to the teacher that were under observation. Observers are also not allowed to voice any criticism.
The system of observing professional colleagues in action has become extremely popular. Observers learn from experienced professionals and those under observation are motivated because they have been identified as true professionals in their field. Eventually, however, it is the students that benefit most because their teachers are freshly inspired with new ideas. Teachers not only learn from each other but they also get to know each other better.
Critics have shot down the system as utterly worthless. They argue that observation sessions are artificial because the teacher under observation inevitably try to impress his colleagues rather than teach as he would normally do. Critics also think that the sessions are too short and that the lack of formal feedback renders them useless. Many critics say that formal teacher development programs are the only way in which to improve the system.
The fact remains that the entire education system is under tremendous pressure. No one will deny the fact that major steps are necessary to improve the situation. Observation sessions are easy to implement and they do not require funding. If they help to improve the quality of education then they are certainly worth a try.
This system is designed to provide a way in which a small group of teachers can learn from an experienced teacher. They do this by attending a class of the teacher under observation. The observers are expected to be unobtrusive. They are not allowed to participate in the lesson or to ask any questions. Their focus is to learn something from the teacher in action. This is always a voluntary system.
Observers always meet just before an observation session. In this meeting they set some goals for the session. Teachers selected for observation are normally deemed to be professionals that achieve excellent results. The observers therefore strive to focus on the techniques and methods used by this colleague to achieve their results. The teacher under observation is not part of this meeting.
The system cannot work if any of the role players, students, observers, administrators or those being observed, perceive the sessions as some form of evaluation. This may never be the case. The only aim of these sessions is for the observers to learn and to take away some constructive ideas that can help them to become better teachers themselves and to contribute towards the quality of education at their particular schools.
After the observation session the observers meet once more. This time the aim is to share the lessons that each observer has learned and the ideas that they got for the improvement of their own lessons. This discussion is considered to be strictly confidential and no report is ever submitted to anyone, not even to the teacher that were under observation. Observers are also not allowed to voice any criticism.
The system of observing professional colleagues in action has become extremely popular. Observers learn from experienced professionals and those under observation are motivated because they have been identified as true professionals in their field. Eventually, however, it is the students that benefit most because their teachers are freshly inspired with new ideas. Teachers not only learn from each other but they also get to know each other better.
Critics have shot down the system as utterly worthless. They argue that observation sessions are artificial because the teacher under observation inevitably try to impress his colleagues rather than teach as he would normally do. Critics also think that the sessions are too short and that the lack of formal feedback renders them useless. Many critics say that formal teacher development programs are the only way in which to improve the system.
The fact remains that the entire education system is under tremendous pressure. No one will deny the fact that major steps are necessary to improve the situation. Observation sessions are easy to implement and they do not require funding. If they help to improve the quality of education then they are certainly worth a try.
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