Observation forms (5): Rows and columns

One of the most commonly used observation instruments is a pro-forma with a set of rows and columns or a table. Quite simply, the trainer designs the form to pick out areas he or she wishes the observer to look out for. It can be used for virtually any area of teaching.

The example below shows a form designed by a trainer to encourage inexperienced teachers on a pre-service course to focus on how new language is introduced. The first three columns require some kind of straightforward reporting back of what happened but the fourth column demands a response from the observer and in this way it begins to develop the observer’s evaluative skills.

Stage	The language taught and practised	The method used to present new language	The activities used to practise the language	Comment on the success of the methods and techniques used

Here is an extract from a rows and columns observation form that the observing teacher has started to complete:

Time	Is the focus of this stage on fluency or accuracy?	Write one learner error at this stage	How did the teacher deal with the error?	What aids, materials or equipment were used at this stage
10.33	Fluency	‘I go there last night.’	Waited until then end of the activity and wrote it on the board. Asked students to comment.	Board.

 Here’s another example but this time it combines ideas from other types of observation forms (see previous posts in this series) and puts them into the rows and column format.

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Tagged: CELTA, Cert TESOL, Diploma in TESOL, lesson observation, teacher training, Trinity Diploma in TESOL

Posted in: Lesson observations