SPIRE Program Classroom Observation

Appendix H

Instructions: Please observe each SPIRE Fellow teach and complete this observation form in hard copy or electronically. Upon completion, please discuss with the Fellow and forward a copy of the form as an email attachment (lerea@unc.edu; brybar@unc.edu ) or by fax (919) 966-4010. If possible please try to conduct an initial classroom observation during the first month of the semester.

SPIRE Fellow: Date of Observation: Class Observed: Subject/Topic Covered:

Dr. Justin Shaffer

Faculty Observer:

Dawayne Whittington

April 10, 2012 Biology Origin of Species

Very Poor

Number of Students Present:

Roughly 45

Poor

Fair

Good

Very Good

Excellent

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h.

Development of topic Clarity of material presented Pace of delivery Level of student engagement Use of technology Knowledge of subject matter Classroom management Incorporation of current research topics during lecture

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Strengths: 1. An on time start was likely much appreciated by students who arrived on time. Keep this as part of your style, and most will respect it and adjust. 2. Slides used during the class were incredible! Interesting, rich examples. Font-size appropriate. Amount of information good. Also included a great summary slide at end of lesson. 3. Awesome job of moving around the room and physically covering a good portion of a very difficult room. Walked the aisles a even visited the hallway in the early part of the class. 4. Very strong questioning skills. Questions spanned the range of Blooms Taxonomy. Great wait time, and great follow-ups, including one of the most powerful, "Why?" 5. Strong use of low-risk questions that make it easier for students at lower end of scale to engage with the content 6. Students appear to be very comfortable asking for help, which suggests they sense a supportive environment . Specifically student states after summary slide I dont really get it! Thats huge for a college class environment. 7. The use of Poll Everywhere was very creative and a nice way to increase engagement while also assessing students 8. Loved your persistency with the pair-share strategy. Tried it early in the class with limited success, tried it again at 10:01 am and it worked very well. 9. Snappy, catchy words helped further engage students, e.g., failed snail sex 10. Inclusion of a closing activity for them to write down one thing they were still confused about was a strong way to close.

Last revised March 16, 2009

Appendix H
Specific Suggestions for Improvement (at least one): Room Specific - The biggest suggestion is to utilize the physical space in a way that would further strengthen your students engagement. Ideas include reducing distance between you and back row by making certain rows offlimits. - Related to the room/space issue. Talk louder, if not walk room as you give announcements so that you can set tone of, this is my room - Turn on lights so that board can be seen as you are writing - Practice of repeating students comments in order to enable whole class to engage with the feedback; strong strategy for getting full class involved in discussion Pedagogy - Look to increase the opportunities to get students involved with low risk questions. Example, How many species do you think there are in the world? - Be more scripted in your language as you set the students free to do group work. Theres a difference in You can talk to each other and something like share your most convincing point with your neighbor. - Be careful not to ask questions that are too intimidating too early in the lessondefinition of a species. Be sure to soften it by asking for a component of the definition. You eventually did this. - In a class this size and long, be sure to use more verbal pick me ups throughout to reign wandering minds in, e.g. this is the most practical Taking to Next Level - Consider engaging students with Poll Everywhere in the very beginning to see what your n-value is or ask how many will be participating today in the polls to raise their hands. - Look for a companion to the Poll Everywhere service that allows students to text questions or comments. If successful, look to incorporate one word/short phrase responses that could further drive your lesson - In a similar lecture, go bold with the question about gometic, e.g., Has a human and dog ever had a baby? Look for tabloid article that could help be a springboard for this discussion. - Look to incorporate a supplementary article that is about a new species that was recently discovered, even if it is from secondary literature.

OVERALL EVALUATION: (select one)

Very Poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Very Good

Excellent

Have you discussed this evaluation with your SPIRE Fellow?

Yes

Not Yet

Questions:

Have you toyed with different points or ways to give the announcements? Tell me what has worked and not worked so well. How well do they respond to the closing activity? Do you typically get a lot of feedback in this way?