OBSERVATION TOOL STRATEGY

THE OBSERVATIONAL STRATEGY

•               Observation    is a process of systematically viewing and recording student behavior for the purpose of making programming decisions;    

permeates the entire teaching process by assisting the teacher in making the decisions required in effective teaching.

PURPOSE

·         provides systematic, ongoing information about students in relation to areas of strengths and weaknesses, preferred learning styles, unique interests, learning needs, skills, attitudes, behavior, and performance related expectations.

          

        CHARACTERISITICS 

·         can be used every day to assess students of different ages, across subject areas, and in different settings (alone, in partners, small groups or whole class)

·         Is structured with a clear purpose and focus;

·         Include a written record which should be as close to the time of the event as possible. The record should be objective.

        

                          TEACHER's ROLE

            The teacher:

·         Watches students respond to questions, study, complete assigned tasks:

·         Listens to students as they speak and discuss with others;

·         Observes nonverbal forms of communication ( e.g., attentiveness to lessons, signs and frustration):

·         Outlines the purpose of the observation by using the following questions as guidelines:

Who will make the observation?

Who or what is observed?

Why will the observation take place?

When will the observation take place?

When will the observation occur?

How will the observation be recorded (notes, audio and videotape)?

·         Observes the students in a variety of situations and settings;

·         Draws inferences on the basis of the observation gathered;

·         Observes the students performance, then records observation on recording devices (checklist, rating, anecdotal record) which outline the framework and criteria for observation.

CONSIDERATION

           

·         Are made using a checklist, a set of questions, and or a journal as a guide to ensure focused systematic observation.

·         Are often the only assessment tool used for demonstration (e.g, oral speaking, drawing, playing musical instruments, applying motor skills in the physical education program, using equipment in design and Technology);

·         Can be collected by audio tape or videotape 9allows the teacher more detailed assessment of the performance after the fact):

·         Can limit students ability to act naturally if audio tape or videotape is used:

·         Can be influenced by bias in the interpretation of an observation;

·         Can be considered subjective, where the meaning of the observation is derived only by the professional judgment of what is observed;