TEACHER DEVELOPMENT

PEER OBSERVATION

TASK 3

CRISTIAN CAMILO MURCIA MURCIA

Code: 1083896656

Group: 16

MILLY ANDREA MUÑOZ

TUTOR

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA – UNAD

BACHELOR DEGREE IN ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

CEAD PITALITO HUILA 

APRIL 2016

FIRST SESSION: OBSERVATION TASK (TWO HOURS)

Institution:  Humberto Muñoz Ordoñez  (Sede Escuela Central) 

Teacher Observed: Karen Manuela Salamanca   

Picture taken from: http://yummyenglishforchildren.blogspot.com.co/2012/11/super-why-games.html

• Teacher began the class with an explanation of what she pretends to reach with the class and the importance of each activity developed.

• She used a video beam to project a video with a song of the alphabet in English with each letter and how it sounds in English. 

• Teacher exposed some examples to show students how the letters sounded and in some cases she spelled some words with the same letter like “T-A-T-I-A-N-A” without saying one letter so they could infer which letter was missing.   

T-A-T-I-A-N-A

• In this part, she gave the students some worksheets with different names or words so students had to take out one of this and try to spell it according the English alphabet.

• Teacher sometimes said: “you Carlos, ask the name of her…what is your name?”  That students answered and teacher said: now spell it… who wants? Raise your hand…

• Beginning the class she asked to their students about what they learnt the last class and then she made a little comment about that.

• She uses some worksheets with names and one especially with the alphabet for coloring so students had to paint it and paste it in their notebooks.

• She always ask the students for participating and being active in the class giving one positive point for each participation, so students keep always motivated.

 SECOND SESSION: OBSERVATION TASK (TWO HOURS)

"THE WEATHER" 

There is a clear division into stages. I mean, the teacher begins the class with a game call “Simon says” through which students do some movements according what teacher says. Then, teacher carried out the development and presentation of the new topic and finally, she ends reviewing the topic and proposing a homework for the next class.

She explained that through this topic they will always answer the question “what´s the weather like today?” so, that will help to make dynamic the contributions in class. 

This evidences that teacher clearly states the purposes and goals. 

The materials are presented in a logical sequence.

It is very clearly signaled each stage because teacher carries out the class sequentially but without saying now it follows the practice part or things like that. However it is possible to notice the transcendence from one stage to other in that sequence. 

The teacher gives an important use to the ICTs. She uses:  

• Computer
• video beams
• speakers, 
• photocopies, 
• videos and 
• power point presentations

The teacher inside the classroom uses expressions like:               "Stand up.  Sit down.  Look outside and answer…  ¿what´s the weather like today?  Come in…  We are talking about… What is this?  What color is this…?  Do you know how to say this in English?   Raise your hand…  Don´t speak…  Be quiet… I am going to give you one positive point…" REFLECTION ABOUT MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ACTIVITY 1.      Your own experience as observer: How do you feel about it? What have you learnt? This exercise as observer has been fruitful for me because of several reasons. First, I can perceive important aspects of the class that sometimes once cannot notice while is teaching both about oneself and about students as such.  Besides, I can notice some little mistakes that maybe sometimes we can make as teachers and which we should try to avoid in regards to the students doubts and questions, the way how they learn and things like that. I mean, this experience allows me to reflect on what I am going to be as teacher and how I would carry out my profession in the best way. For all the above reasons, I feel very well even though I can notice that teacher feel a little intimidated with my presence there. Finally I can corroborate that using technology is as important as having a good English proficiency and pronunciation in class.  2.      Some general principles of effective teaching. -Providing spaces for interaction and practice -Considering the needs and interest of students likewise their characteristics according the context -Providing ongoing feedback -Articulating ICT with the development of the class -Using challenging tasks, motivating to the creativity and using real life situations so students feel involved in the process -Practicing English skills as much as possible both inside classrooms and out of there. 3. A critical analysis of each event or session, exploring what could be improved or developed and how might this be achieved in each one of the observation tasks. I really like the sessions that I observed because I could notice that teacher is very practice and very didactic in her English classes. She always try to prepare the best digital materials for using her computer and video beam and trying to be attentive to the needs of the class. However, it is important to highlight that in some case it is important to have an approach with those students whom are not interested in class or almost do not answer or participate in class because they are also part of the class and they should be taken into account a little more. In general I have observed to great English classes but relating this with what the whole educative process means, it is a fact that English class like others subjects matter must points out to the integral formation of the students. 4. A critical reflection to propose some changes that might improve the teaching sessions on specific areas taking into account your attitudes and awareness which you believe can benefit your professional growth as teacher, as well as enhance the kind of support provided to the students, use of technology, lesson structure, student activity, interactivity, etc. Actually I think the numbers of students is a determinant aspect that affects a lot the educative process because it is not the same teaching to fifteen or twenty students that teaching to 33 or more students, which is a little more difficult and limits a little the possibilities of reaching the goals. However, as this is the reality today, I think that one way to supply the need of that big amount of students with quality is through using technological aids. Currently, we have in our hands the tools to transform the ancient routines or ways of teaching and to implement the new ones. Those which students are familiarized with, and which would enhance teaching practices in the schools. Parallel, it is important to highlight that if teachers use technology for developing the class, it must be taken hand by hand with activities that involves students in order to they can feel  like an active  part of the process due to it is not useful if technology become students in simple receptors of information or simple spectators. Conversely, it has to represent the opportunity to propitiate the interaction and the exchange of ideas so the class become active meaningfully.  Finally, I would like to suggest that lessons structures must be interconnected between themselves in order to students receive feedback and they practice the new knowledge with their previous and as a product of that practice they can evidence in their skills the learning reached.