From Inside Inside Teaching Part One- On Observations
From the fabulous book by Tim Bowen and Jonathan Marks
“I bet you’ll have a fit when you see how I teach” (a teacher on being observed) pg 1
“What our observers say to us after our lessons reveals more about them than about us” pg 1
“Most teachers rightly understand that it is possible to criticize any lesson subjectively, depending entirely on the criteria and motives of the observer” pg 32
More observations on observations
The advantages and disadvantages of peer observations (and how to exploit the former and reduce the latter)
Managing with out managers- the politics of peer observation (from Marxist TEFL group)
PS apologies for two sub The Sun titles in just one article, blame it on the tiredness
Tags: Quotes
October 16th, 2009 at 12:12 am
“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).
October 16th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
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
October 17th, 2009 at 5:21 am
Is that a positive or a negative thing?
October 17th, 2009 at 10:50 am
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/