ABSTRACT

Building on recent changes and debates surrounding the use of observation, this fully updated second edition of Classroom Observation explores the role of lesson observation in the preparation, assessment and professional learning of teachers, lecturers and educators at all levels and across all educational organisations. Offering practical guidance and detailed insights on an aspect of training that is a source of anxiety for many teachers, this thought-provoking book offers a critical analysis of the place, role and nature of lesson observation in the lives of education professionals.

Updated to incorporate the latest research, policy and practical developments on observation, this new edition also includes greater coverage of research and developments in the field of observation beyond the UK. Enabling readers to use observation as a lens for understanding, informing and improving teaching and learning, and equipping them with structured frameworks for applying observation, this book includes sections on:

  • Teacher autonomy and professional identity
  • Performance management, professional standards and accountability
  • Peer observation, self-observation and critical reflection
  • Educational assessment and evaluation
  • Peer-based models of observation
  • Using digital technology to inform learning.

Written for all student and practising teachers as well as teacher educators and those engaged in educational research, Classroom Observation is an essential introduction to how we observe, why we observe, and how it can be best used to improve teaching and learning.

part I|66 pages

Exploring the role of classroom observation in teaching and learning

chapter 1|19 pages

Classroom observation in context

Understanding the background to its emergence and its role in the teaching profession

chapter 2|21 pages

A review of classroom observation in the English education system

Understanding its role in schools, colleges and universities 1

chapter 3|24 pages

Typologies of classroom observation

Contexts, models and purposes

part 2|67 pages

Classroom observation as a means of studying and assessing the effectiveness of teaching and learning

chapter 4|28 pages

Classroom observation as a method for studying teaching and learning

Ways of recording what you see

chapter 6|20 pages

Being an effective teacher

Models of teacher effectiveness

part 3|71 pages

Classroom observation as a means of improving teachers’ professional learning and development

chapter 7|20 pages

Classroom observation as a tool for expansive professional learning

Observing practice and the role of critical reflection

chapter 8|20 pages

Peer-based models of observation

The benefits of collaborative learning

chapter 10|14 pages

Lesson study

chapter |3 pages

Conclusion