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Reflection as a teaching method
The nature of observation in the classroom
The importance of reflection in teaching
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Summary: During observation in classes, it is important to observe through “lens” that you’ve developed through experiences and influences. Observing while using personal biases is not a good practice if you want accurate information about your observation. For example, events in classrooms move rather rapidly. What may seem like an unorthodox approach to teaching may have some significance behind it. Until you completely understand the dynamic of the classroom, it may seem questionable.However, it may be simply that the teacher is trying to maintain the classroom momentum. These are the reasons why personal biases should be kept in check while observing in classes. This could hinder the objective of the observation that you are trying …show more content…
Social and group dynamics are important to understand in order to help in discovering what distracts the students and what engages them in their learning. Observing these interactions can broaden your understanding of what is causing these distractions and why the teacher is unaware of these disturbances. Since classrooms constantly have distractions and are in rapid in pace, sometimes teachers do not have time to reflect on their practice. Teachers need to be aware of their behavior, they can unconsciously fall into a routine. This complacency can lead to teachers not becoming an active decision maker, rather than a “fire extinguisher.” The other purpose of observation is to enhance your understanding of a particular area of understanding. In order to obtain relevant information from observing is by asking questions that fulfill your curiosity on the topic. During this time, your lens may change but that is to be expected. This will provide your research with a better and comprehensive understanding, a deeper meaning to your research. Being a good observer will not happen overnight. Patients and the willingness to try new things will only help you better gather the information that is needed during your
Observation allows researchers to experience a specific aspect of social life and get a firsthand look at a trend, institution or behaviour. It promotes good communication skills, improves decision making and enhances awareness.
Observation is very important in young children because that is how you get to know a child better. While observing how a child interacts with their peers, adults, and how they behave in different settings, you are getting to know the child without speaking to them.
In the role as an observer, the classroom was well-managed. This is on the basis that there was no need for the use of physical control cues, for example nods and eye contact among others and verbal control cues like orders, commands, scold among others. Also, it was observed that no students wandered about the classroom. Second, the students were actively engaged, which resulted in an optimal learning environment which aided in the management of the classroom. My view is congruent to that of Miller (2015), which stated that, “once students are engaged in the classroom, then management issues will dissipate.” Third, students sharing in the management of the classroom were seen in the role conducted by the class monitors. According to Jones & Jones (2005), “Glasser states that students will function productively only in
Since observation skills don’t get sharpened up in real life the way questioning skills do, you need to train yourself to see, learn, and think when you watch people do stuff. It takes some practice, and some discipline. I don’t pretend to have mastered the art, but I’ve learned some techniques that will help. So here are my "Seven Rules for Observational Research."
Emmer and Laura M. Stough are a part the Educational Psychology Department at The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University. They wrote an article called “Classroom Management: A Critical Part of Educational Psychology, With Implications for Teacher Education” in which they discuss the correlations between educational psychology and classroom management. They define classroom management as actions were taken by the teacher to establish order, engage students, or elicit their cooperation (Emmer & Stough, 11/29/16). They convey the importance of maintaining order, and by doing so, students will be involved in activities leaving no room for disruptive behavior. As mentioned above, classroom management is based on leading learning and not the control of the students. Having an organized schedule for the students to pursue the students will focus on what is being learned. Rather than, becoming distracted students will engage in learning and the activities at hand. Therefore, resulting in leading learning. For this reason, teachers should be prepared and organized before the school year begins. Rules and consequences to disobeying any of the rules should be established and repeated for the first couple of weeks. By doing this, the students will know what to expect, will follow these rules, and have a successful academic experience. Emmer and Strough agreed that classroom management is a staged process and is acquired over many
Observation is important as the practitioner can find out what the child is interested in and what motivates them to learn alongside their progress and how they behave in certain situations, additionally at the same time it identifies if children need assistance within certain areas of learning or socially (DCSF, 2008). Furthermore the observations check that the child is safe, contented, healthy and developing normally within the classroom or early years setting, over time the observations can be given to parents as they show a record of progress which helps to settle the parent and feel more comfortable about their child’s education. Observations are not only constructive within learning about an individual child, they can be used to see how different groups of children behave in the same situation and how adults communicate and deal with children’s behaviour (Meggitt and Walker, 2004). Overall observations should always look at the positives of what children can complete within education and not look at the negatives and all observations should become a fundamental part of all practitioners work alongside reflection (Smidt, 2009).
When the observation takes place you as well as the teacher are
A question arises here: Is teacher bias towards students real, or is it just one of the absent-minded complaints that students make? Do SIS teachers have preferences? Teacher bias is when teachers, either consciously or unconsciously, show favoritism or contempt towards certain students. As integrity is something that is greatly emphasized in SIS, it is important that teachers and students both believe that favoritism isn’t present in the SIS community. Therefore, it is crucial that we know both sides of the story: Do teachers and students have the same thoughts about favoritism?
The hallway is small, but the amount of people in it is not. Day after day they crowd; never failing to talk throughout passing time. They are oblivious to the traffic. A classroom is behind them--door wide open--the wider hallway is adjacent. Not one or two people linger, but a group forms. The already narrow hallway feels cramped and suffocating when they gather. People that do it may not know any better, but these actions are not productive. We must learn to correct them for the sake of ourselves and our fellow students.
Outside distractions are a major hindrance to student learning and motivation within many schools systems. These distractions can be anything from a one-sided crush, to a lack of interest in the subject that makes the student
Likewise, the use of this peer observation will allow students to have an insight the techniques they are displaying that are improper and offer advice on how to correct these errors. The use of these learning theories and research based instructional strategies increases the probability of successful student learning within this instructional unit.
Some kids don't work as well when other kids are in the classroom. You hear everything that everyone is saying or doing,this becomes very distracting. You here the click of a pen,the loud,echoing boom of a textbook slamming open, the screech of the old bathroom stall closing and opening,the click-clack of the kid who is tapping their pencil on his desk and every other conversation that students are having. All this isn't distracting or stressful? This is one huge reason why students should have breaks during the school day.
In observation is watching a person’s behavior and their actions. They prefer this method because it allows them to see how situation and environment influences behavior and to note a range of behaviors. When this takes place, you get to witness everything first hand in a natural state.
Ms. Gruwell showcased this when she addresses the drawing and voiced why that type of behavior was not acceptable and would not be tolerated in the classroom. Lastly, observational learning can be seen in the context of the students originally being hesitant to listen to and trust Ms. Gruwell. Many of the students gave her a hard time, but
My time observing was not only educational for me on how to become the teacher I desire to be, but as well as how to better myself as a student and improve my own learning. I observed some wonderful learning tools that I have since implemented into my own education to develop my own learning.