Assessment of Classroom Instruction 6. Reflect on Results

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Critical Colleague

Another method for reflecting on results is to enlist the aid of a critical colleague. This can be a mutually beneficial relationship, as the act of observing, thinking about and suggesting reactions to instruction problems helps both the observer and observed. A colleague can be brought in both during the class, or afterwards to help analyze results. Here suggested list of procedures for setting up this relationship:

• Ask a friend or colleague to join you in a critical friendship.
• Draw up a list of observation rules that both observers should follow when you conduct classroom observations and/or reactions to results
• Ask your colleague to first observe your teaching without giving feedback, to enable you to gain experience with a friend present in the classroom.
• Observe your colleague's teaching, if asked.
• Meet and discuss both the gathered results and other feedback.

Source: Farrell, T.S.C. (2004) Reflective Practice in Action: 80 Reflection Breaks for Busy Teachers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.