Lesson Observation

3 purposes of classroom observation

• Stimulating New Practices : To identify a teacher’s strengths in classroom teaching and promote these good strengths amongst staff;
• Improving Practice: To help a teacher improve his/her classroom teaching and identify learning needs if necessary.
• Assessing Practice: To assess the teaching competency of the teacher from the developmental perspectives.

The Process

1. 2 observers are involved in any one classroom observation:

• DPST, DeanRS or Dir/ST (school leader, who will tend to focus on good practice in teaching in general, independent of subject area).
• PC, SC or EC (department leader, who will focus primarily on the pedagogy for the specific subject area).

2. Observers record the plus, minus and interesting points of the observation.

3. A completed observation form is filed with (a) the general office (b) PC.

Tasks

At least 3 weeks before observation

1. Decide with the observers a date & time for the actual observation.
2. Decide also on date and time for pre- and post-observation conference with observers.

Pre-observation conference (at least 2 days before observation)

1. Submit lesson plan section on the pre-conference form to observers.
2. Meet observers for face-to-face conference to decide on the areas of focus for the observation.

Post-observation conference (within 2 days after the observation)

1. Fill in the reflection section on the post-conference form
2. Meet observers for face-to-face conference.
3. Follow-up on suggested areas for improvement, if any.
4. Record the time involved in pre-post conference and lesson obervation as training hours.