ABSTRACT
We suggest looking at one or two lessons in some detail in terms of their profiles. This is quite a time-consuming process, but by examining one or two lessons closely you will find that you develop a general insight that will help you in observing other lessons. Lessons can usually be described in terms of a brief sequence of events-they have a beginning, a middle and an end. For example:
1. Introduction-demonstration-practical-discussion-conclusion 2. Introduction-film-discussion-note-taking-summary 3. Introduction-presentation of work by groups-discussion-summary etc. etc. Often a single lesson only makes sense when it is seen as a sequence, so try and find out what has preceded it in the course,
and what will follow. (You can try asking teacher and pupils about previous lessons and comparing their responses.) The teacher may be willing to tell you quite a lot about the lesson, about his general aims and objectives, and about the class in general. If you have the chance, compare topics of conversation and what he/she says before and after you have observed the lesson. After the lesson make a rough plan of what happened using the following illustrative scheme as a guide. With practice you will find you can record more easily and accurately, but don’t let the process of recording get in the way of observingonly do it if you find it interesting.
