{"id":1428,"date":"2011-03-29T18:50:30","date_gmt":"2011-03-29T17:50:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eltchat.com\/?p=1428"},"modified":"2011-03-29T18:50:30","modified_gmt":"2011-03-29T17:50:30","slug":"how-can-we-make-observations-less-stressful-and-more-a-part-of-ongoing-professional-development-eltchat-summary-23032011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/2011\/03\/29\/how-can-we-make-observations-less-stressful-and-more-a-part-of-ongoing-professional-development-eltchat-summary-23032011\/","title":{"rendered":"How can we make observations less stressful and more a part of ongoing professional development #ELTchat Summary 23\/03\/2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

This summary was contributed by Priscilla Santos – <\/strong>@teacher_prix<\/a> on Twitter! What a great job! Thank you!!!!!!<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

To be or not to be\u2026 Observed!<\/span><\/h2>\n

I have been observed a number of times since I started teaching. Those observations have happened for a number of reasons, ranging from DOS checking if I was following the school\u2019s method accordingly to my asking a colleague\u2019s help with a very unusual teenage group.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I believe in lesson observations if they have a clear purpose, and allow for some reflection \u2013 I don\u2019t mind being observed at all. In fact, I really enjoy and respect feedback sessions.<\/p>\n

However, being on the other side, playing the observer\u2019s role is something yet to be figured out in my head. How much more should I know in order to be the person in charge of observing other teachers? How much reading should I have done? How should I tackle feedback? What puts me in a position of \u2018criticizing\u2019 someone else\u2019s work? How picky, straight to the point or sensitive should I be? Will I ever be ready? How many more questions\u2026?<\/p>\n

Writing this #ELTchat summary has widened my views on the matter. Moreover, it has helped organize my ideas and \u2013 yes \u2013 it has given me not THE answers to all the questioning above, but the directions so I can find myself around.<\/p>\n

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Thanks #ELTchatters!<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Here are some of the main themes from the discussion:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Reasons for observations:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n