READING CLASSROOMS HOW TO MAXIMISE LEARNING FROM CLASSROOM OBSERVATION UNIT 2.1 Susan Heightman From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009

OBJECTIVES At the end of this unit you should be able to: define the focus of your observations to achieve specific learning purposes use different strategies for recording your observations in forms that lend themselves to subsequent analysis use observation to analyse teaching strategies and pupil learning behaviours to enhance your ability to plan and teach your own lessons understand the teaching and learning process and have an insight into how you wish to teach. From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009

OBSERVING CLASSROOMS What should you be observing and why? What do classrooms look like? How lessons begin The structure of a lesson and transitions Teacher talk and oral feedback Pupil talk and interaction Focus upon pupil learning Observing pupil management and encouraging pupil behaviours which maximise learning Observing assessment for learning. How does the teacher use learning resources and aids during the lesson? Subject content focused observation. From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009

OBSERVATION Who should you be observing and why? Using digital cameras or video cameras in lesson observation Collaborative teaching as a form of observation Further inquiries and observations: some suggestions. From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009

FURTHER INFORMATION To explore this material further, read: Heightman, S. (2009) ‘Reading classrooms: how to maximise learning from classroom observation’, in S. Capel, M. Leask and T. Turner (eds) Learning to Teach in the Secondary School: A Companion to School Experience, 5th edn, London: Routledge. From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009

FURTHER READING Altrichter, H., Feldman, A., Posch, P. and Somekh, B. (2008) Teachers Investigate Their Work: An Introduction to Action Research across the Professions, 2nd edn. London: Routledge. Education Broadcasting Services (EBS) (2004) Looking at Learning: Tactics of Questioning, (CD Rom), London: Teacher Training Agency. Marsden, E. (2009) ‘Observing in the classroom', in S. Younie, S. Capel and M. Leask (eds) (2009) Supporting Teaching and Learning in the Secondary School London: Routledge. Wragg, E.C. (1999) An Introduction to Classroom Observation, London: Routledge. From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009