Guiding information 4.1: Experience of visits and observations
Visits and observations of classes are good ways of valuing and engaging with teachers’ professional development and learning. They also provide opportunities to discover more about pupils’ learning.
A visit to a class can be as short as 15 minutes, giving just enough time to see what is happening and providing the visitor with just enough information to give some feedback to the teacher, probably later the same day.
It is much shorter and less formal than an observation. The purpose of the visit could be general – answering the question ‘How are things going?’ or more focused such as, ‘How well are pupils interacting?’ or ‘Is the teacher including all pupils in the class?’
An observation is more formal and usually takes place over a whole lesson. It is more structured than a visit and contains the following elements:
- Discussion of the lesson plan in advance (and perhaps agreement of focus)
- Pre- and post-observation discussion with the teacher
- Prompt and helpful feedback
- Linking the observation with professional learning priorities
- Looking for learning – making it learning-focused.