Class Observation Form

Faculty Member Observed: Ms. Nalini Malhotra Observer: Basma Abdulla

Class Observed: Foundations Level 2
25th September, 2014

Date and Time of Class: Thursday

1) The goal or outcome for this class session is:

a. Learn the spellings of a list and their meanings
b. To apply meanings into context through Mind Map activity
c. Write a paragraph using the Mind Map information
2) Describe what happened in this class session.
a. Teacher wrote objectives on the board for the class to see.
b. Students knew the routine they went to their lists, learned the
spellings, did a Quizlet activity, then completed a quiz on the spelling
words. If students finished one list, they could go ahead and start with
their second list.
c. After the time allocated passed, the teacher modeled how to
brainstorm topics with the spelling words
d. They had to create a draft on paper, crossing out and adding on the
paper as they brainstormed together
e. Once they were done, they had to go to an iPad App called Popplet
and create a mind map for the words. Students worked in groups. The
teacher modeled one using a student example from a previous lesson.
f. Students then wrote a paragraph linking their spelling words and the
phrases they put in the mind map.
g. Students then took a screen shot of their work and submitted it to the
teacher.

3) What worked particularly well during this class session?

a. What worked well in this class was clarity ands how smoothly the
class flowed from activity to activity. There was partner work where
students turned their chairs to face the person sitting behind them.
Their activities were a series of tasks that they had to complete on
their own. The teacher was there for guidance and facilitation.
4) Was there a point during this class session when the faculty member
lost student attention?
a. Some students were really behind on their lists, so while others were
already working on their mind maps and their paragraphs those two
were still on their lists. The teacher offered support but also had them
understand that they could finish their paragraph as homework if they
couldnt catch up in class. I think this was effective because the work
would be submitted but nobody felt pressure as students could more
or less work on their own pace.
5) How did the physical surroundings or environment of the class session
affect the learning experience, if at all
a. The class took place in one of the computer labs in the library. The
temperature was a little cold but seemed better that way since all the
students were on computers. The time of the day was early so students
were fresh and knew their routine. There were enough computers for
each student, and most students opted to use their iPads. There was
minimal outside noise, and the lighting was dim enough for them to
work well on their iPads. One problem with technology was how slow
it took some computers to start up, but otherwise the class ran
smoothly. The room was spacey and overall the surroundings had a
positive effect on the learning experience.
6) What suggestions do you have for the faculty member you observed in
terms of expansion of particularly effective teaching strategies,
improvement of teaching strategies that didnt work well, solving
problems you observed, etc.?
a. Perhaps timing students and having them see the timer so that students
who were lagging behind could feel more pressure to complete their
work in a timely manner. Otherwise the class seemed to be completely
organized and well taught.