Lesson: Lesson observation (video recording or tracking of the course)

How to prepare for a lesson observation

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  Treat every lesson as though you’re being observed, and treat every observation as a normal lesson. Every lesson you give should be planned intricately, in line with the current curriculum and designed to give your students the best possible learning outcomes. Try to think of observations not as being judged, but as an opportunity to improve.
  
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  Don’t try to over-perform - when we hear we’re going to be observed, a normal reaction is to want to impress our observer with an all singing, all dancing lesson - when in actual fact this isn’t a true reflection on your ability as a teacher, instead plan your lesson just as you would any other.
  
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  If you know you’re being observed, avoid starting an entirely new topic and provide your observer with your lesson plan and any resources you will be using in the lesson so they’re able to get a full view of the work students are undertaking.
  
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  For internal observations, familiarise yourself with the guidelines your school will have set out so you know what your observers are looking for and the key components of a good lesson.
  
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  Don’t take feedback personally, it’s intent is to be constructive and remember any improvements your observer suggests will only help you develop as a teacher and enable you to provide a better learning experience for your students.
  

Lesson Observation

Lesson observation is a key element of any teacher’s CPD, and done well, it can have a transformational effect on the teaching process and on developing a consistency of values and approaches across the school. But it can be harmful to individual teachers and a school’s culture and is subject to ‘fashion’ swings in the styles of assessment used.

How Lesson Observation Supports Great Teaching: A Detailed Guide

Lesson observation underpins the very best professional development (PD). Watching others (and yourself) in action in the classroom can be a revelation. But, observations are widely disliked by teachers. Why? Because they’re often tied to performance evaluation - not learning. This needs to change!
In this guide we share everything you need to know about effective and empowering lesson observation. We’ll look at what the research says and how to shift the culture of observation in your school.