The educational system is under tremendous pressure. There are simply not enough resources and teachers have to deal with numerous responsibilities. They have to achieve good results in the classroom but they are over burdened by administrative responsibilities, endless meetings, extra curricular activities and other tasks. They have almost no chance to develop professionally. At least, with instructional rounds teachers are given the chance to learn and to develop their professional teaching skills.
This is by no means a complicated or expensive system. All it is is that a small group of teachers get together for the purpose of observing a senior, more experienced or even well known educator in his classroom while he is teaching. These observed teachers need to agree to be observed, however. The purpose is for less experienced teachers to learn and to find ways in which to improve their own teaching methods.
The observers have a meeting before an observation session where the sole purpose is to decide what the objective that they wish to achieve are. Observed teachers are often known for very specific successes such as getting the learners to participate in class discussions. The observers will focus on those successes and concentrate on learning how to use the same techniques in their own classrooms to obtain similar results.
Observers never evaluate the colleague that is observed. That will negate the entire idea behind these sessions. They have only one goal and that is to learn from the observed colleague. This is why the learners are informed about the reason for the visit and that is also why no feedback is ever given. The observers do not participate in the classroom activities and they do not interact with learners.
After the observation session the observers meet once again. This time round the purpose is to give each other feedback regarding the lessons that was learnt. They discuss ways in which they can use these lessons to improve their own teaching methods. Criticism of the observed colleague is not allowed. No report is drawn up and all discussions are deemed to be confidential.
These sessions have become commonplace and teachers say that they greatly benefit from them. They learn from experienced colleagues, find new inspiration and they get the opportunity to interact with colleagues. When teachers grow professionally everyone benefits. Learners obtain better results, schools are obtaining better results and the entire educational system is improved. Observed teachers also benefit because they find new motivation in the knowledge that they are deemed as worthy to learn from.
There are always critics. In this case they say that these sessions are of no consequence because they are too short and infrequent. They say that observed teachers put on an act for observers. They are in the minority, however. Most educators are in favour of the system. They say that they cherish the opportunity learn and that they find that they are once again enthusiastic about their jobs.
There should really be no opposition to a system that cost almost nothing, that is supported by the majority of teachers and that have proven to have positive results. If the educational system is going to improve innovative and creative systems have to be put into place. These sessions are of benefit to everyone involved in education.
This is by no means a complicated or expensive system. All it is is that a small group of teachers get together for the purpose of observing a senior, more experienced or even well known educator in his classroom while he is teaching. These observed teachers need to agree to be observed, however. The purpose is for less experienced teachers to learn and to find ways in which to improve their own teaching methods.
The observers have a meeting before an observation session where the sole purpose is to decide what the objective that they wish to achieve are. Observed teachers are often known for very specific successes such as getting the learners to participate in class discussions. The observers will focus on those successes and concentrate on learning how to use the same techniques in their own classrooms to obtain similar results.
Observers never evaluate the colleague that is observed. That will negate the entire idea behind these sessions. They have only one goal and that is to learn from the observed colleague. This is why the learners are informed about the reason for the visit and that is also why no feedback is ever given. The observers do not participate in the classroom activities and they do not interact with learners.
After the observation session the observers meet once again. This time round the purpose is to give each other feedback regarding the lessons that was learnt. They discuss ways in which they can use these lessons to improve their own teaching methods. Criticism of the observed colleague is not allowed. No report is drawn up and all discussions are deemed to be confidential.
These sessions have become commonplace and teachers say that they greatly benefit from them. They learn from experienced colleagues, find new inspiration and they get the opportunity to interact with colleagues. When teachers grow professionally everyone benefits. Learners obtain better results, schools are obtaining better results and the entire educational system is improved. Observed teachers also benefit because they find new motivation in the knowledge that they are deemed as worthy to learn from.
There are always critics. In this case they say that these sessions are of no consequence because they are too short and infrequent. They say that observed teachers put on an act for observers. They are in the minority, however. Most educators are in favour of the system. They say that they cherish the opportunity learn and that they find that they are once again enthusiastic about their jobs.
There should really be no opposition to a system that cost almost nothing, that is supported by the majority of teachers and that have proven to have positive results. If the educational system is going to improve innovative and creative systems have to be put into place. These sessions are of benefit to everyone involved in education.
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