Classroom Observation

                                            Classroom Observation

What

Systematic classroom observation is a method of measuring classroom behaviours from direct observation that specifies both the events and behaviours which are to be observed and to be recorded. Generally, the data that is collected from this procedure focuses on the frequency with which specific behaviours or types of behaviour occur in the classroom and measure their duration. There are several elements that are common to most observational systems:

a.     a purpose for the observation,

b.     operational definitions of all the observed behaviours,

c.      training procedures for observes,

d.     a specific observational focus,

e.      a setting,

f.       a unit of time,

g.     an observation schedule,

h.     a method to record the data, and

i.       a method to process and analyze data.

Why

Classroom observation has three major educational purposes as follows:

a.      Descriptions of instructional process: One of the fundamental purposes of classroom observation research is describing the current status of instructional practices and indentifying instructional problems.

b.     Investigation of instructional inequities: Several studies have found that some groups or types of students are treated differently by teachers in classrooms, and that these inequitable patterns of teacher student interaction in classrooms result in differential learning outcomes for students. There have been many studies, for example, that have found gender imbalances in teachers interaction patterns in the classroom. Therefore, investigation into instructional inequities is important.

c.      Improvement of teaching practices: Research using observational methods has yielded important information that has practical implications for the improvement of teaching practices.