Classroom Observation 4

WEEK 4

Instructor evaluated: Ilpo Päiväläinen                            Date: 25th.  April, 2012 (Wednesday)

Course: English Business Documents                           Time: 12:00  - 13:45  Room: 4001M

Evaluator(s) Misfer Alqahtani (The Ocean)              Number of students present: 19

The lesson observed was about writing a letter of order in English and it aimed to help students acquire proficiency in business writing. The teacher warmed up his class by delivering some sheets to his students containing different types of questions (multiple-choices, filling the spaces, and open questions) about main business terminology they would need in the following tasks. Students answered them orally and he corrected mistakes and added comments. Then he let his students do some assignments in groups, pairs and individually. Then he summarized   his lesson.

The teacher was an example of student‐centered class and interaction. In‐class discussions were frequently conducted and multi‐techniques in different forms of activities to improve students’ business writing proficiency were applied.

His students were very attentive, well prepared and they actively participated in a collaborative scene. They had been encouraged by the teacher. This was mainly obvious in his teaching techniques of browsing students work and moving in class to help them.

 Also, he used some important teaching aids, such as the board, textbook, handouts and the computer. However, one thing I had observed insufficient in the class was that he did not use the power point or the documentary camera. I think if he used that kind of teaching tool, it would be more appropriate and interactive, especially, the class is full of enthusiastic students.

The teacher in his class was serious, confident and his voice was audible and clear. In short, this lesson was a very practical business writing lesson in that it helps students build up ability to write English for specific purposes, which are extremely beneficial for students in their future working life.

Classroom Observation 3

WEEK 4

Instructor evaluated: Anna Kimberly              Date: 24^th.  April, 2012 (Tuesday)

Course: 12:00 - 13:45 English Business Documents           Number of students present: 10

Evaluator(s) Misfer Alqahtani (The Ocean)

 The lesson observed was about writing a CV and a letter of application.  The class met at room 2204. The major task of the lesson was to prepare students to write CVs and letters of applications as their assignment.  The teacher started her lesson by having her students look at a written CV template reflected on the whiteboard by the documentary camera and she discussed it with her students, asking them specific and detailed questions about each part in the template.

     From observation, the teacher’s teaching philosophy in her class can be revealed mainly through the following aspects.

First, she believes that class should be student‐centered and interactive. This is particularly obvious in her design of class activity, which depends totally on her frequent questions and comprehensive discussion about the lesson main idea. However, the negative side was that, there had been only one teaching activity applied in the classroom which failed to encourage students to be involved actively in the discussion.  I think it would be successful if some different activities used, such as, brainstorm (at the beginning of the lesson), dividing students into groups or in pairs and encouraging them to make their discussion.

In my opinion,  alternative teaching activities are very necessary for the teacher to change his teaching way if he needs that, especially when the students are not attentive and do not participate. So, some alternative teaching activities were urgent in her class.

 

Second, the lesson was carefully prepared and the objectives and aims were very clear. As a result, she was confident and no hesitation during the class discussion or when she were asked by her students and observers. Also, it had been clear to me through her discussion that she used the multi-social media with her students and she had asked her students to be prepared for making presentations about different cultures.  In fact, I could see that the teacher tried to do her best and she would achieve her goals.

Week4, Observation 2

Classroom Observation 2

WEEK 4

Instructor evaluated:  Wallace Reynolds              Date: 23^rd.  April, 2012 (Monday)

Course: 12:00 - 13:45 English for Journalists            Number of students present: 7

Evaluator(s) Misfer Alqahtani (The Ocean)

As a member of "The Ocean group" I attended the teaching session for a classroom observation with the above mentioned teacher and his lecture was about an interesting topic. He discussed the best ways of gathering information about the person who will be interviewed, different ways of making an interview, types of questions, and types of listening and signs of listening.  

His teaching skills he used were very good because there had been variety of teaching activities applied and he used the documentary camera as a tool of his teaching aids but the scrip of some sheets was very small and I think he should pay attention to this point because some students at the back might face difficulty in reading what was written on the whiteboard. In addition,  I noticed that he spent very long time  reviewing the previous information that he had taught and I think it would be better and enough  if he spent about 5 - 7 minutes on the review. He was very polite with us and with his students, however,, I noticed that he did not introduce us to his students and did not explore his teaching objectives and aims at the start of his class.

In general, his lecture was interesting because as I mentioned above he used some useful teaching tasks, such as pair work, group work and individual work and his students were very attentive, there had been interaction and he was humor with his students. In fact, I liked his lecture.          

WEEK 3 REFELECTION

WEEK 3 REFLECTION

Week 3 was to some extent a little bit different than the other two weeks ago because of the shadowing sessions that I attended which gave me more positive impression about the ability to apply some helpful teaching methods in a classroom. I have learnt some more important skills of doing peer observation

In the classes in Haaga Helia, before and after the shadowing, I appreciated some teaching techniques used by our instructors, such as having participants find there groups by combining the pictures and asking students to find the best theory of learning  that the pictures can be related to. Also, the game used in classroom, which was placing a right card to a right learning theory  and I have learned more important issues about my blogger and the social media in general

Observation 1

 

Week 3 Classroom Observation 1

Instructor evaluated:  Anneli Helpiola-Casey     Date : 17^th &18th of April, 2012

Course: English 7 CU, Customer relationship     Number of students present: 11

Evaluator(s) Misfer Alqahtani

The teacher had come early and met us before the class started and she explained her objectives of the lesson. She dealt with us in a nice, polite and friendly manner. So, I decided to follow the way of communication she had used, that when I return to my country. The teacher warmed up the class in a successful way. She told the students about the purpose of our visit and asked us to introduce ourselves to the students and asked them to introduce themselves to us. This activity used for ice breaking was good because students became relax and familiar to us as new visitors.  

 She was capable of applying knowledge and techniques in the classroom because she is very experienced and she speaks the  English language clearly and her voice was audible, but I think it would be better if she varies in applying  the teaching techniques, such as making "a model role task"  before having her students apply the task of negotiations. Also, she put students in about 4 groups and that was very useful, because there had been a lot of interaction between students and with the teacher, but I think the lesson will be more attractive if the teacher mixed the groups from different cultures.

 The material and the content used in the classroom were relevant to the level of students, but I think it is important and useful if the teacher trained her students to learn in social and situational ways where the interaction is an essential factor. The teacher did well but she needs to take in considerations the management of the classroom because it is very important factor for success.

In general, the teacher did well in teaching students and I'd like to thank her for giving us the opportunity to attend with her and for her smooth way of communication.          

WEEK2 REFELECTION

WEEK2

REFLECTION

Main points

Introduction to vocational pedagogy Katri Aaltonen and Merja Alanko-Turunen

Social media workshop with Irmeli Pietilä

City Tour withLarse and Suvi

It was very beneficial week because there had been some important successful different tasks had been done. The class had been taught by two teachers; Katri and Merja. This way of teaching, was something new to me, so I liked it because I did not feel bored. They used some very exiting activities, like the game of having participants match the main important features of the four learning theories, they already had taught us. Also, I liked using the metaphor in ice breaking activity they had used. They both are cooperative teachers.

Social media was one of the most crucial teaching tools which I like very much. Irmeli and her useful classes will contribute to my teaching strategies. For instance, the provided social media list, making Gmail, creating a blogger and using it, making learning groups, and posting texts or images through the blogger. Really, we need to use most of the social media.

There had been a wonderful day with Larse and Suvi in the city tour. After we all had gathered in the train station, we went in a city tour and we visited many important places. It was very important for my because I could recognize the directions of the city and find the important places that I might need to visit, especially for shopping. I had seen some important places in the city. City tour is very important for new visitors.

This fantastic lecture, thanks to my team, all participants and the instructor of this session

Week 1 Reflection

WEEK1

REFLECTION

 

As has been early intended and decided by TVTC in Saudi Arabia to share with the experts from HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences the extremely successful experience, I started my programme at this University in Finland on Monday 2 April. As soon as I got going on the programme I felt there would be extraordinarily immense challenges.

 

 

All participants from TVTC were all received and welcomed warmly by the instructors and staff members of the programme. As a result, I have recognized that it is quite significant to deal with fresh trainees in a very friendly and polite way. Also, I was very surprised by the fantastic collaborative learning activities that had been guided by the programme instructors inside and outside the classroom.

 

In addition, In the few past days, I have learned the best way of introducing students to each other and I liked the activity instructors used because it was more practical when they made the classroom as a map of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and each participant should go to his region. I have been informed with the principles and objectives of the programme and my responsibilities for the whole period, so I learned from this teaching technique that it is essential for teachers to make a complete plan to the whole period of their course. One of the most useful and active teaching activity that I have learned this week is the activity used by the instructors to review what participants had learned the day before by asking them questions and writing hints on the board. We have learned the differences and similarities between Finish and TVTC vocational learning and it's very important for me as a participant to choose the best for my students. I have learned how to start working the learning journal and how to use the moodle. So that is very important for me to learn it in order to use media and technology in my class in the future. Really it was amazing learning week.

E-learning

E-learning is a vey useful tool for learning. Teachers must train themselves on using this important tool and apply it in there teaching activities. There is a vey big challenging that might face teachers and students in the same time. One of the challenges is the difficulty of using e-learning by teachers and students 

This is vey useful class. I hope that we do alot of practice