Unit 8 - Assignment 1 - Blog 5
It was hard to find an alert this week that wasn't about the coronavirus, but I was able to find one that interested me. I stumbled upon an article called, "How to Bring Classroom Observations into the Digital Age" by Ralph Krauss. This was sent to my inbox from my "classroom technology" alert created in Google Alerts. This article is mainly about how observations done by principals should be done in the least distracting and most discreet way possible. The idea is to have principals use videoconferencing software on laptops while the teachers wear headsets. The principal is able to watch the teacher while he/she is teaching a lesson from his office. He is also able to give immediate, live feedback to the teacher as he/she is teaching. In theory, this should be less distracting for students.
As I was reading this article, I was quite honestly offended. I think it is an insulting idea personally. Without the principal in the classroom observing all student behaviors, they can't truly get the whole picture. If students were robots, then sure, it's not the worst idea. Honestly, I have a very challenging class this year. If my principal sat in his office chair watching me teach a lesson without seeing all of the student behavior and the dozens of times I need to pause to redirect my students, he wouldn't understand. I think the idea of being watched through a video camera is ridiculous. As a principal, the presence alone in the classroom tends to help keep the students on their best behavior. I enjoy my observation days because my students tend to behave, and my lessons go much smoother than normal.
In addition, I can't even remotely express how strongly I feel that the immediate, live feedback idea is ludicrous. So you mean to tell me in the middle of my lesson teaching my 7 year olds cursive, I am going to have my principal speaking in my ear giving me feedback and ideas on how to do better? No way!! I would absolutely despise that. Talk about distracting? I couldn't imagine pausing my teaching to listen to his suggestions right then and there. Also, the article states that teachers are supposed to carry on as normal. Are you kidding me? How is a teacher supposed to comfortably teach while waiting for his/her principal to begin speaking into their ear? If I was teaching and my principal gave me a suggestion mid-lesson, I honestly think I would be so thrown off. The article claims that a positive is that the teacher doesn't have to wait days or weeks for feedback on his/her lesson. Honestly, I don't mind waiting forever for the feedback if it meant not having to hear it in the middle of my lesson.
I do understand the appeal in a way, especially for the principal. The principals have to take quite a bit of time typing up feedback and sometimes it's difficult to think back and remember how the lesson went. However, I don't think this would be an authentic way to rate a teacher. I would much prefer my principal to come into my classroom and get the full view of how I run my classroom. The article also talks about recording the lesson so the teacher can go back and re-watch the lesson. Let's be real. Teaching is hard. It's a lot of work. We all know at the end of the day, the lessons that worked well, and ones that need to revamped for the following year. Teaching is a beyond demanding job. I am often there before and after school, planning, prepping, grading, and everything else that goes into being a teacher. No offense, but I do not have time to sit and re-watch my lessons and critique every little move I made while teaching. I think at some point, we have to sit back and realize when we are making a mountain out of a molehill. I can understand why the use of technology makes things easier, but I personally think this is a terrible idea.
Click here to view the original article.
As I was reading this article, I was quite honestly offended. I think it is an insulting idea personally. Without the principal in the classroom observing all student behaviors, they can't truly get the whole picture. If students were robots, then sure, it's not the worst idea. Honestly, I have a very challenging class this year. If my principal sat in his office chair watching me teach a lesson without seeing all of the student behavior and the dozens of times I need to pause to redirect my students, he wouldn't understand. I think the idea of being watched through a video camera is ridiculous. As a principal, the presence alone in the classroom tends to help keep the students on their best behavior. I enjoy my observation days because my students tend to behave, and my lessons go much smoother than normal.
In addition, I can't even remotely express how strongly I feel that the immediate, live feedback idea is ludicrous. So you mean to tell me in the middle of my lesson teaching my 7 year olds cursive, I am going to have my principal speaking in my ear giving me feedback and ideas on how to do better? No way!! I would absolutely despise that. Talk about distracting? I couldn't imagine pausing my teaching to listen to his suggestions right then and there. Also, the article states that teachers are supposed to carry on as normal. Are you kidding me? How is a teacher supposed to comfortably teach while waiting for his/her principal to begin speaking into their ear? If I was teaching and my principal gave me a suggestion mid-lesson, I honestly think I would be so thrown off. The article claims that a positive is that the teacher doesn't have to wait days or weeks for feedback on his/her lesson. Honestly, I don't mind waiting forever for the feedback if it meant not having to hear it in the middle of my lesson.
I do understand the appeal in a way, especially for the principal. The principals have to take quite a bit of time typing up feedback and sometimes it's difficult to think back and remember how the lesson went. However, I don't think this would be an authentic way to rate a teacher. I would much prefer my principal to come into my classroom and get the full view of how I run my classroom. The article also talks about recording the lesson so the teacher can go back and re-watch the lesson. Let's be real. Teaching is hard. It's a lot of work. We all know at the end of the day, the lessons that worked well, and ones that need to revamped for the following year. Teaching is a beyond demanding job. I am often there before and after school, planning, prepping, grading, and everything else that goes into being a teacher. No offense, but I do not have time to sit and re-watch my lessons and critique every little move I made while teaching. I think at some point, we have to sit back and realize when we are making a mountain out of a molehill. I can understand why the use of technology makes things easier, but I personally think this is a terrible idea.
Click here to view the original article.
I have the exact same thoughts Brittany and I am pretty worked about this idea as well. I would feel completely awkward, and you are right, the principal needs to see everything that is going on in the classroom...no just what the teacher is saying. My students continue on just as normal when the principal is there. They are used to seeing him in their classrooms and around the building and he is definitely not a distraction. I also cannot imagine our union would be in favor of this.
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