Open classes
By Wakako Kojima :: November 21, 2003
In my school, teachers are now showing their classes to those who teach the same subject. Teachers in elementary and junior high schools are usually familiar with the practice — we high school teachers, however, are not. So we get to see other classes and think about our own.
It is really good to see classes taught by other teachers. We can reflect on our classes through those of others.
Comments
Rudolf :: November 21, 2003
Great idea. How does this play out in practice? Are those visits announced? Do you descend on the classes in one big group, or are individual teachers allowed to slip in and out of classes without warning? Do you share your thoughts afterwards or is everyone just left to draw their own private conclusions?
In my experience, announced visits by big groups — I’ve got one of those coming up on Thursday: a group of Ministry officials or whatever — tend to make a class into a theatrical performance; you’re playing to an audience, trying to create an “impression”.
Empirical linguists who try to observe “naturally occurring language” sometimes call this the “observer’s paradox”: you can’t really observe a speech event without influencing and, to an extent, distorting it. The same effect might be minimised in this case, though, if you keep visits down to small groups or individuals.
Here at the Kyotsuyoiku-to, many classroms have two doors, and, for whatever reason, the back door is usually open while classes are in session. As I walk through the corridors, I thus get some exposure to the teaching that’s going on. Sometimes I have to resist the urge to slip in through the back door, sit down and start heckling the prof.
Wakako :: November 22, 2003
Well, it depends on the subjects. We, English teachers decided to see any classes held during the last week. So, no announcement. One teacher came to see my class for five minutes, the other for 10. Some came in the begining of the class, and others in the end.
Next January, we will have a week when any teacher can see any classes. We don’t have to set these period if we ask someone to show his/her class. But it is very difficult to ask. So I think this attempt is good.
Commenting on this entry is closed.
Great idea. How does this play out in practice? Are those visits announced? Do you descend on the classes in one big group, or are individual teachers allowed to slip in and out of classes without warning? Do you share your thoughts afterwards or is everyone just left to draw their own private conclusions?
In my experience, announced visits by big groups — I’ve got one of those coming up on Thursday: a group of Ministry officials or whatever — tend to make a class into a theatrical performance; you’re playing to an audience, trying to create an “impression”.
Empirical linguists who try to observe “naturally occurring language” sometimes call this the “observer’s paradox”: you can’t really observe a speech event without influencing and, to an extent, distorting it. The same effect might be minimised in this case, though, if you keep visits down to small groups or individuals.
Here at the Kyotsuyoiku-to, many classroms have two doors, and, for whatever reason, the back door is usually open while classes are in session. As I walk through the corridors, I thus get some exposure to the teaching that’s going on. Sometimes I have to resist the urge to slip in through the back door, sit down and start heckling the prof.