Log of observations of standards

During your observations, please target the following. You will not necessarily observe all twenty-three but if you make yourself aware of these issues then you will be more attuned to noticing them. Your observation log should be typed up at the end of each visit or you will cry alligator tears when you have to convert all your chicken scratch to an electronic version for your portfolio!!

Investigations

   1. Keep a record of the lab activities you see students perform in the courses you observe.
   2. Keep a record of the demonstrations you see performed in the courses you observe.
   3. List the various methods students used to conduct and report investigations.

Nature of Science

   4. Record methods that teachers use to effectively engage students in science concepts.

Inquiry

   5. Record methods that teachers use to effectively engage students in science inquiry.

Context of Science

   6. Record methods that teachers use to relate science to other human values or endeavors.
   7. Record methods that teachers use to relate science to the personal lives and interests of their students.

Skills of Teaching

   8. List any especially effective teaching strategies that you observed.
   9. Record the various ways in which teachers interact with students to promote learning and demonstrate student achievement.
  10. List the various uses of technology you observed being used in the courses you visited.
  11. List the common prior conceptions (and misconceptions) and interests of students.

Curriculum

  12. List various ways that the curriculum was designed to address the needs, interests and abilities of all students.
  13. List any modifications of the curriculum that were made due to the nature or expectations of the community.

Social Context

  14. List the values or needs of the community and their effect on the teaching of science.
  15. List human and institutional resources in the community that are used by science teachers.
  16. What were the most common news articles related to education that appeared in the newspaper?

Assessment

  17. List assessment strategies you observed that were especially effective.
  18. List how assessment changed/affected the plan of science instruction.

Environment for Learning

  19. List any special methods you observed that made a significant impact on the learning environment and impacts the learning environment made on teaching methods.
  20. List any special practices that made management of storage areas, labs or field activities easier and/or safer.

Professional Practice

  21. Describe any professional meetings or activities you attended and what you learned by attending. Describe time, location and organization for each event.
  22. What were the most common issues discussed on professional education ListServs in which you participated?  Were there any meaningful suggestions or solutions presented?
  23. Some people are happy being teachers; others seem to suffer through it.  List methods or approaches teachers use to find the joy in teaching based on your discussions with teachers.