Observational Schedules

Using the observation schedules

  • The observation schedules are designed to reveal patterns of either teacher or pupil behaviour that may be significant to the promotion of pupil learning
  • The examples of observation schedules include a wide range of instruments designed to help you observe specific aspects of teaching
  • The observation schedules are usually completed by a non-participant observer; that is, not the teacher of the class being taught. This could be yourself observing your tutor, another teacher or another student teacher; or by your tutor, a teacher or another student teacher when observing you
  • In those cases when an observation schedule is being used to gather data about your own teaching, it is likely that after a period of time you will want to reuse the observation schedule to chart your progress
  • Some of these observation schedules are simple, others are complex
  • You may want to modify an observation schedule so that it suits your own particular need
  • You can use these examples of observation schedules in combination, e.g. if combinations of skills are being observed
  • You can use these examples of observation schedules to help you develop your own observation schedules for a specific purpose
  • It is always wise to practise using an observation schedule before you begin to collect specific data
  • You may need to acknowledge the source of the observation schedule if this is to be stored in your PDP and used in evidence of your progress.

EXAMPLES OF OBSERVATION SCHEDULES AND QUESTIONS

  1. Gathering information about the school and the PE department
  2. Gathering information about the PE facilities and resources
  3. Starting a lesson
  4. Questions you can use for evaluating your lessons
  5. Use of voice (4)
  6. Giving instructions/use of language (2)
  7. Questioning (2)
  8. Demonstration (3)
  9. Keeping pupils on-task: Nature of teacher response to pupils off-task
  10. Keeping pupils on-task: Rule giving and task setting
  11. The start of a PE lesson
  12. Routines in PE
  13. Time spent on organisation
  14. The end of a PE lesson
  15. Organisation
  16. Organising a lesson phase in gymnastics
  17. Organisation and safety (3)
  18. Teacher positioning (2)
  19. Lesson climate
  20. Self presentation (2)
  21. Motivation
  22. Use of praise
  23. Mosston teaching styles (Mosston and Ashworth, 1986) (2)
  24. Teacher moves directed towards improving quality (after the task has been set)
  25. Teacher feedback (Praise, Motivation, Guidance)
  26. Teaching for a creative response

The number in brackets after the title refers to the number of observation schedules with the title given.

All observation schedules are from The University of Bedfordshire or from Peter Breckon except for observation schedule 27.