Observation and Feedback

上海市南匯中學 畢文艷

Observation and Feedback

上海市南匯中學 畢文艷

Observation and feedback plays an important part in guiding normal teaching and especially contributes to achieving educational purposes in an organization.In this article,the role of observation and various kinds of observation will be clarified;the effectiveness of observation will be illustrated and the strengths and shortcomings of the existing system will be pointed out objectively.

the role of observation feedback effectiveness strengthen shortcoming

1.The role of Observation

In the new millennium characterized by the era of information and the knowledge-based economy,the importance of education is becoming increasingly important as we advocate the policy of“revitalizing our nation through science,technology and education”.(Ministry of education,2008).As the standard of assessing teaching is getting higher and higher,teacher development has become a vital part of a lifelong learning in order that teachers meet the new demand of the society and cater to a diversity of learning styles.Classroom teaching and observation in particular provide a platform to facilitate teacher development.

Nowadays,observation has become an essential part of teaching in many organizations for various reasons.Above all,observation practice is helping to improve education in general,for it helps teachers develop classroom skills and effective feedback and useful suggestion support their professional development.Another reason is that observation is a tool to supervise the quality and ensure the realization of the aims in their organization.In my opinion,observation also plays a vital part in guiding my normal teaching and is especially helpful for our organization to achieve educational purposes.

1.1 The definition of observation

It means “observing or being observed.” (p785,Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English with Chinese Translation,1985).Briefly speaking,classroom observation is done by a third party of teaching and learning that occur in institutions.Action research is usually done to assess or improve teaching and learning.With the aid of relevant tools such as teaching evaluation form,observation chart,video recorder,tape recorder and so on,the observers collect data from classrooms and conduct research in the field of teaching design,students’activities,classroom management and other communicative techniques.

1.2 The role of observation

According to Jackie Gottschalk,“In my opinion,observation is closely related not only to teachers’development but also to students’development and eventually to schools’ development.” “Observation plays such an important role that it affects not only teachers but also observers and organizations as a whole”The following points are explained in detail.

First and foremost,observation is developmental as it works as a facilitator for the teacher.By observing a model lesson,young teachers can learn effective teaching planning,students’activities class management and communicative skills.Therefore it will greatly promote the growth of teachers in the long run.On the other hand,being observed by experienced teachers will push them to work harder and harder in order to reach their desired standard.In addition,some useful feedback suggestions from the observers will be very helpful for improvement of their future work.

Another point is that observation is aim-oriented for it ensures that teaching is meeting an acceptable standard and that the quality of teaching is meeting the organizational standards. (International House London Management Training Online:Nanhui Observation and Giving Feedback(2011).The role of observation[lesson].Thus observation has a quality control value.By observing teachers,the head know whether their staff is competent enough to complete their task.

2.The effectiveness of observation system in our organization

2.1 The observation in our organization

It can be grouped into developmental and evaluative observation.In our organization,many activities of observations are carried out on a regular basis every semester.I need to illustrate the purposes of classroom observation first.

The main purpose is to collect data for staff appraisal.In our organization,teachers are evaluated in a multiple manners.The data collected comes from students’scores,self-report,peer evaluation and observation records made by the headmaster or section head.The lesson he or she gives establish an image in the eyes of the observer because it directly demonstrates how competent or communicative the teacher is.Another purpose is to collect evidence for professional development.Teacher development is indispensable for quality education and the long-term development of the school.Through classroom observations,the observed teacher can improve their teaching performance and gain insight into the strengths,effectiveness and shortcomings of their teaching.

2.2 Patterns of observations in our organization

2.2.1 Principal observe teachers

Our school is a key high school made up of more than 300 teachers and nearly 3000 students,450 minority students included.In order to ensure the quality of such a big high school,especially to meet the standard of college entrance exam,the headmaster implements a strict quality supervision system.“Principle observes teachers”is a common sight in Shanghai Nanhui Middle school.Every semester the principal conducts a series of observations himself in almost every classroom.The feedback mainly focuses on problems and solutions existing among current classrooms.Those observed are required to improve their practices so as to reach the requirement of our organization.

2.2.2 Experienced teachers observe young teachers

In our organization,young teachers make up about 40%number of teaching staffs.Our school attaches great importance to their growth and support their professional development by organizing a series of teaching activities or competitions.Each young teacher is designated a senior teacher as a tutor who will observe his or her lessons regularly and give suggestions and useful assistance.In addition to their tutor’s observation,the section head requires that each young teacher give an opening class and all the section members will observe the lesson at the required time.In this way,young teaches make rapid advancement in their teaching practices.

2.2.3 Peer observation

In our organization peer observation is supported and encouraged in our teaching planning although we have difficulty in doing this in reality.Here is a precious case of peer help.In order to guarantee the quality of senior 3 students,last semester the teaching council in our organization required that some model lessons should be given and all the section members should observe their colleagues.This gives us insight into our own teaching and facilitates our direction in our future profession.

3.The strengths and shortcomings of the existing system

Everything has two sides.So is observation system in our organization.

3.1 The strengths

The observation system exerts a positive influence on the quality of teaching in our organization.It’s good that most teachers in our school acknowledge that observation ishelpfulfortheirteaching efficiency.Through observation,we can pay close attention to some important points about classroom teaching that are important for our professional development.As for the benefits of observation,they are as follows:

3.2 learn from teaching planning

In formal observations observers are usually given out a teaching planning in advance.It makes clear how he manages to achieve the main aims and subsidiary ones as well.We learn how to give a successful receptive or productive lesson by a general planning.Above all,we learn how a good eliciting is well designed and how to arouse students’interest and motivate them by organizing students’activities.All the planning is crucial for our professional growth.

3.3 learn from communicative techniques

In the whole process,we pay attention to the rapport establishment between teacher and students which will facilitate the whole teaching procedures.Above all,is the lesson student-centered?Students’autonomy plays an important role in a successful communicative language classroom.The more active the students are,the more successful the teacher being observed is!Students’participation is one of the key components we observe.

3.4 learn from teaching instructions

When we observe lessons,almost every observer takes down some good “teacher language” in their records because instructions show the art,wisdom,humor,flexibility and experience of the teacher being observed.As is often the case,we learn clear,concise and timely instructions from experienced teachers which are helpful for the smooth operation of the teaching process.

3.5 Learn from class management

In our organization,the section head,especially the principal pays close attention to the management of our individual class.When we observe,we find most young teachers work as class teachers to learn management skills in our school at the very beginning.The teacher being observed grows mature if he or she is skillful in disciplining the class.Management skill covers about 30%of overall evaluation in the observation chart of our organization.

3.6 Learn from timing

Time control is regarded as an essential part of a good lesson.It’s common practice that we calculate the time each teaching step takes while we observe.Some teachers even write time planning in their TP.We compare the real time and the supposed time.The lessons we observe are usually controlled exactly and win loud applause from the observers.

4.The shortcomings

Though observation in our organization has brought out many benefits,it also causes some problems and face difficulties.To begin with,it causes too much pressure to teachers.I can’t imagine how many sleepless nights we have spent during the past year when all the senior 3 teachers were frequently observed by the headmaster,panel head and other teachers without any prior notice.Most teachers are threatened with being observed every day.Such anxiety is likely to bring about ineffectiveness of observation.

Secondly,it is merely a form sometimes.Everybody is fully scheduled and we have no time to observe other teacher’s class.Even when we observe we can’t put our heart into it because we are too tired to think of anything meaningful.Feedback is seldom given because observers are too busy to give it.

5.Conclusion

Classroom observation is prevalent in our organization.It plays an important part in ensuring quality teaching and promoting teachers’growth.We expect the primary purpose of observation is developmental.We look forward to improving ourselves in a less stressful environment.More peer observation will be encouraged and supported so that colleagues facilitate each other.Despite the difficulties,I am determined to take a positive attitude towards observation.

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