Comments on: From Inside Inside Teaching Part One- On Observations http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/publishing/inside-teaching-observations/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:01:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alex Case http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/publishing/inside-teaching-observations/comment-page-1/#comment-7324 Alex Case Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:50:11 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4063#comment-7324 Negative, apparently Here's the blog post that I really wanted to mention but couldn't track down until now: http://adhockley.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/the-role-of-teacher-observations/ Negative, apparently

Here’s the blog post that I really wanted to mention but couldn’t track down until now:

http://adhockley.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/the-role-of-teacher-observations/

]]> By: Darren Elliott http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/publishing/inside-teaching-observations/comment-page-1/#comment-7321 Darren Elliott Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:21:07 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4063#comment-7321 Is that a positive or a negative thing? Is that a positive or a negative thing?

]]> By: Alex Case http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/publishing/inside-teaching-observations/comment-page-1/#comment-7316 Alex Case Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:11:26 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4063#comment-7316 My "favourite" piece of observation feedback was a teacher being told that her body language was "provocative", by a battle axe teacher trainer in IH London, of all places My “favourite” piece of observation feedback was a teacher being told that her body language was “provocative”, by a battle axe teacher trainer in IH London, of all places

]]> By: Darren Elliott http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/publishing/inside-teaching-observations/comment-page-1/#comment-7310 Darren Elliott Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:12:35 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4063#comment-7310 “What our observers say to us after our lessons reveals more about them than about us” pg 1 I absolutely agree with this and I want to read this book immediately! I spent several years observing teachers as a trainer here in Japan, about four or five different classes a week. Did I help those teachers improve through my feedback? I hope so, a little bit. Did I scare the bejaysus out of them when they saw me walk in the door. Most likely. But did I learn almost everything I know about what to do and what not to do in the classroom by watching others? Absolutely! I also learnt so much about teachers; what motivates them, what they are scared of, what encourages them.... Observations are all about the observer. I have no problem with being observed, by peers, by bosses, whoever. But I have yet to recieve any feedback of any use. Most people are too scared to say anything negative. Observation criteria can help everyone focus (Check Ruth Wajnryb's book), as can training or experience in feedback / counselling (Julian Edge's ideas, or Heron's six category intervention analysis for example). “What our observers say to us after our lessons reveals more about them than about us” pg 1

I absolutely agree with this and I want to read this book immediately!

I spent several years observing teachers as a trainer here in Japan, about four or five different classes a week. Did I help those teachers improve through my feedback? I hope so, a little bit. Did I scare the bejaysus out of them when they saw me walk in the door. Most likely. But did I learn almost everything I know about what to do and what not to do in the classroom by watching others? Absolutely!

I also learnt so much about teachers; what motivates them, what they are scared of, what encourages them….

Observations are all about the observer. I have no problem with being observed, by peers, by bosses, whoever. But I have yet to recieve any feedback of any use. Most people are too scared to say anything negative. Observation criteria can help everyone focus (Check Ruth Wajnryb’s book), as can training or experience in feedback / counselling (Julian Edge’s ideas, or Heron’s six category intervention analysis for example).

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