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OBSERVATION
IN PRE-CLINICAL EXPERIENCES
Teaching is complex
and dynamic. There are numerous elements to effective teaching/learning
environments. A primary activity during pre-clinical experiences
is the observation of practicing teachers. During observation,
students will focus on specific elements of the teaching/learning
experience, and they will be involved in the following types
of observation.
Descriptive
Observation
In their first pre-clinical
experience, students should focus on the teaching/learning
environment to describe what is going on in the school or
the classroom, why it is happening, how it was planned, and
the outcomes. At this level of observation, the emphasis is
on describing what is happening.
Critical
Observation
With additional experience,
students broaden their viewpoint to consider the relationship
among individual elements of teaching and learning. The emphasis
at this level of observation is on characteristics of effective
instruction.
Reflective
Observation
With continuing experience,
students will focus on their own teaching style. Their emphasis
will be on considering such questions as "How would I conduct
this lesson? What will happen if a certain technique is used
with these children? Will it work? Under what conditions will
it work? Must conditions be changed for it to work?"
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Directory | College
of Education | UW-Whitewater
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