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.
The good thing about this system is that it is easy to implement and to manage. All that happens is that a few teachers get together to visit a teaching session of a colleague. It is a voluntary system and even the observed teacher has to agree to such an observation session. The whole idea behind the system is to observe more experienced teachers and to learn from the way that he teaches.
The observers meet before the visit in order to formulate specific objectives for the observation session. These objectives normally focus on the known strong points of the observed colleague. He may, for example, have a reputation for enhancing his lesson with the effective use of multimedia, or he may be very successful in maintaining discipline in the classroom. The observers aim to find out how he does it.
It is important to note that these observation sessions by no means include any form of evaluation. This would simply defeat the entire purpose of the session. The only purpose of such sessions is for the observers to grow and to learn. They do not even provide feedback to the observed teacher unless he specifically ask for it. The students too, are informed about the true purpose of the visit.
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.
Observation sessions have become extremely popular in many school districts. Most participants report that they support the system not only because it gives them an opportunity to grow professional, but also to interact with their colleagues. Of course, if the teacher benefits from the system learners will also benefit. Even observed teachers benefit because they are officially acknowledged as above average educators.
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.
Improving the educational system, even in very small ways, should always be a priority. Teachers should be given every possible opportunity to improve their skills. Their charges are, after all, the future leaders of the world.
The good thing about this system is that it is easy to implement and to manage. All that happens is that a few teachers get together to visit a teaching session of a colleague. It is a voluntary system and even the observed teacher has to agree to such an observation session. The whole idea behind the system is to observe more experienced teachers and to learn from the way that he teaches.
The observers meet before the visit in order to formulate specific objectives for the observation session. These objectives normally focus on the known strong points of the observed colleague. He may, for example, have a reputation for enhancing his lesson with the effective use of multimedia, or he may be very successful in maintaining discipline in the classroom. The observers aim to find out how he does it.
It is important to note that these observation sessions by no means include any form of evaluation. This would simply defeat the entire purpose of the session. The only purpose of such sessions is for the observers to grow and to learn. They do not even provide feedback to the observed teacher unless he specifically ask for it. The students too, are informed about the true purpose of the visit.
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.
Observation sessions have become extremely popular in many school districts. Most participants report that they support the system not only because it gives them an opportunity to grow professional, but also to interact with their colleagues. Of course, if the teacher benefits from the system learners will also benefit. Even observed teachers benefit because they are officially acknowledged as above average educators.
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.
Improving the educational system, even in very small ways, should always be a priority. Teachers should be given every possible opportunity to improve their skills. Their charges are, after all, the future leaders of the world.
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