Long and Short Observation

Home > Solutions > Long and Short Observation

Long and Short Observation

Supporting teachers to ensure students receive quality instruction is one of the most effective methods to improve learning.

Overview

Research shows that high-performing teachers play a major role in learning outcomes, making teacher training and coaching one of the most effective interventions in education policy.

Research into teaching in Sub-Saharan Africa highlights two prevalent themes that require urgent action: high levels of teacher absenteeism and poor teaching quality. Monitoring via teacher observation effectively ensures higher teacher attendance and accountability, whilst working as a quality assurance strategy for stakeholders. These observational practices play a significant role in NewGlobe’s instructional transformation model, accelerating learning at scale by empowering teachers.

Tailored Interventions

Long and Short Observation is one of NewGlobe’s tailored interventions to support teachers and track teaching quality. In a ‘Short Observation’, designated ‘School Leaders’ monitor each teacher every 1.5 weeks at minimum, to verify that children are effectively learning in the classroom.
In a ‘Long Observation’, Academic Field Officers visit classrooms monthly to evaluate overall lesson delivery and quality. Both observations involve the use of provided digital software designed with assessment tools and feedback structures. This works to ensure that performance expectations are being met in the classroom.
Observations are underpinned by a culture of growth and improvement, whereby the evaluations give teachers regular feedback and targeted guidance. Equally, teacher effort is recognised and encouraged, alongside providing a network of support for professional development.

Observations

By conducting these observations, external staff are granted insights into the classroom which allows for management adjustments where necessary. They also return measurement data to NewGlobe’s research engine to ensure teaching quality is sufficient to drive learning, facilitating further intervention testing to improve learning outcomes. This assists NewGlobe-supported programmes in certifying the efficacy of prior training schemes and locating possible improvements. The accompanied digital platform allows teaching quality to be evaluated, managed and subsequently improved at scale.
Long and Short Observations are designed as a holistic intervention to ensure that the programs NewGlobe supports are adequately equipping teachers, all meanwhile establishing that teachers are accountable for student learning.