Chapter 15 Understanding Your Teaching

Chapter 15 Key Points Successful teachers seek to improve their teaching and their student’s learning throughout their career Practices for ongoing professional growth Self-reflection: e.g journals or audio taped logs. Systematic Observation Techniques: Unassisted Techniques Assisted Techniques Regardless of technique used, once baseline data is obtained, teachers can set goals and measure improvement over time

Chapter 15 Key Points Systematic Observation can be used to obtain specific and detailed information about a specific aspect of your teaching Unassisted Techniques (without reliance on others) Tape recording for self-analysis (clarity of directions, interaction patterns, feedback analysis and lesson content analysis) Written instruments completed by students indicating their feelings/perceptions about your teaching performance

Chapter 15 Key Points Systematic Observation (cont) Assisted Techniques depends on availability of others Student Assisted – usually chart one aspect of teaching at a time e.g. charting teacher’s pathways, charting interaction patterns and recording practice opportunities Peer Assisted: often chart more than one aspect at a time and provide more detail – e.g. Duration Recording System Support Groups provide teachers with opportunities to share concerns, questions, ideas, problems, joys and goals