EDUC 5312/3315-Curriculum and Instructional Design

Classroom Observation Assignment

Observation Form 1
Observation Date: ___3/8/2016_____

Observation Time: _8:00-8:55__________

Teacher Observed: __Mr. Akca____

Subject/Grade Level:__6th grade/Math______

School Observed: _Harmony School of Nature

Observer: Mehmet Keles_______

1-What was/were the learning objectives/outcomes of the lesson? (Add state objectives if
known, for example, TEKS 111.4. Grade 2.b.)
The learning objectives and todays date were on right side of the board. I also saw homework
board which states due dates of homework.
(6.8.B) Model area formulas for parallelograms, trapezoids, and triangles by decomposing and
rearranging parts of these shapes.
(6.8.D) Determine solutions for problems involving the area of rectangles, parallelograms,
trapezoids, and triangles and volume of right rectangular prisms where dimensions are positive
rational numbers.
2-How did the teacher begin and end the lesson?
When students came into class, there were two warm up questions on the board, and most of the
students started to work on these questions. There was 10 minutes for solving the questions.
During this time, teacher took attendance by checking his seating chart, so he didnt call
anybodys name at that time. At the end of the lesson, students were still working on their
assignments. When the bell rang, students left from the class.
3-What did the teacher use for teaching materials or instructional aids/equipment?

Board
Notebook
Power point
Mimio Pad
Textbook

4-Which instructional methods and strategies did the teacher use? ( lecture, inquiry,
discovery learning, discussions, games or simulations, demonstrations, cooperative learning,
integration of technology, socrative questioning, etc)
He started to use lecturing method first by showing power point slides to the students. During the
lecturing he was asking some questions to the students. They were also discussing each other
how they need to approach to the questions. At the end of the lesson, students started to work on
questions in pairs. So, there was a cooperative learning.
5-How did the teacher assess learning? (informal, formal, formative, summative, oral, openended, quiz, feedback etc) See Chapter 8 for more information on assessment methods
He used formal learning method. There was an in class activity that he had students work in pairs
to solve problems. He was also answering students questions and giving some feedbacks to their
answers during this activity.
6- What can you say about the teachers philosophy/beliefs and style?
(Traditional/progressive, behaviorist, student-centered vs. teacher centered, authoritative etc)
As I saw that he was using both educational approaches together, student-centered education and
teacher centered education. At the beginning of the class he used teacher-centered education, and
then he used student-centered education by having them work in pairs.
7-How does the teacher manage classroom? Can you identify classroom management
techniques used?
He didnt lecture whole class period, and he kept students attention alive by asking question
while he was lecturing. He always asked students idea by asking how we can continue to solve
the problem. When he saw a pair is not working, he talked to them and helped them start.
8-Observe in the classroom setting and determine types of behavior students play when offtask. What do they do when they are not paying attention? How does the teacher re-direct
them or get them back on task?
When teacher lectured, everybody was listening, but when students started to work in pairs. The
sound level of class increased immediately. Some of the groups were talking out of topic. Some
of them were not doing anything, they were just waiting. Three students raised their hands to be
able go to restroom. He told those students raising their hands wait, and he said he will let them
go by one by after five minutes. Then he started to walk around in the class, and he got close to
the groups that they are not on tasks, and helped them to start. After five minutes, only one
student asked to go to restroom. Teacher continued to walk around and answered students
questions till end of the class.

9-How does the teacher communicate with students (verbal, vocal, meta-verbal or non-verbal
communication such as facial, body language, use of space, motion and time?)
He mostly used verbal communication during the class.
10-Who were the students in the class? What did you notice about them? (Background,
diversity, attitude, motivation, interaction, participation, etc)
It was a crowded class. There were 28 students; 16 of them were girls, 12 of them were boys. I
was a diverse class. I also saw some students from different countries. Their pronunciations were
different. Students desks were placed in pairs, so two desks were together. Thats way students
can work in pairs easily. I figured out that teacher arranged students according to their
performance. One good student was sitting with a student might be problem.
11-What did you see that is effective in engaging students? What do you see that is
ineffective in keeping students engaged?
During lecturing, asking questions to students or discussing it with them keeps students awake
and engaged. During the activity time walking around and checking students work is an effective
way to engage students. Not to do those will cause problems in the class.

12-What are the two instructional strategies you observed and would like to apply in your
classroom?
I liked the strategy that students work in pairs. I would use this strategy in my class. Students
will interact each other, get more engaged. The second one is warm up questions, the teacher will
have a chance to review the topic and learn what students know or not.
13-What are two important classroom management strategies that you observed and would
like to apply in your classroom?
I liked the mimiopad which he was using in his class. He didnt need to stay in front of the board
to write something or solving question. He was able to walk around and be in different places
while he was solving question. So, he was not having any classroom management problem
during his lesson. I would like to use mimiopad in my class. Second one is I liked how he took
the attendance; he didnt call anybodys name. He just used seating chart, and he figured out
easily who absent was.