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Code |
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Event/Job |
Classroom Observation |
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Purpose |
To assess teacher's teaching proficiency and classroom management |
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Time |
during the school year |
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Place |
classroom |
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BCS Coordinator |
Dean of each Curriculum and his/her Associates |
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Participants |
VP-instruction |
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Description |
Each classroom is observed at least once per school year. A BCS Classroom Observation Form should be used.
Normally, at the beginning of the school year, an Associate Dean sets up the observation schedule for the semester or the whole year, then consult with Dean, VP-instruction or the Principal to decide who else will be observing the class. The teacher is also notified at this time.
The observer should stay in the classroom for at least 30 minutes and should not disrupt the classroom activity.
After the observation, the observer and the teacher will have a meeting to talk about the observation. This could be either a face-to-face after-the-class meeting, or a telephone discussion. If latter, the phone call should be made within two days.
The teacher should have a copy of the completed observation form.
A one-time observation of 30 minutes cannot evaluate the teacher on all the teaching aspects. So the observation is more a diagnostic than an appraisal activity.
In the post-observation meeting, teacher's concerns must be carefully attended. |
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Recommend. |
Classroom observation is the only way BCS administrators know directly how a teacher performs in the classroom. A good or a new teacher can receive affirmation in the process. A problematic teacher may receive help and suggestions in the process.
It is recommended that two or more observers go to the classroom simultaneously. The benefits are: 1) Two observers can complement each other to cover more teaching aspects, and 2) In case there is a disagreement between the teacher and an observer, the other observer can mediate or offer a different point of view.
There is always a debate on whether the teacher should be notified before the observation, with the assumption that the teacher may "put a show" if told in advance. However the benefits for notifying the teacher in advance are:
1. Observation will not be conducted when there is not much to observe. e.g., when there is a test or the class is on a field trip. 2. The teacher feels that he/she is respected. 3. Even the teacher is told about the observation and "puts a show", there is still something worth observation.
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