If I am questioned: Is learning observable? I would say yes even though we cannot observe completely. Simply, we can let ourselves know what a student have learned a certain degree with only a question "what did you have learned in school today?" and with answer of the sutdent "I learned about function in a maath class today and it was difficult". Yes learning can be observed superficially with only a question or with other different ways: Assessment, Assignment, Presentation, etc. But we cannot observe completely whether a student are in indeed learning, they totally understood or just pretended to understand and they can apply the theory to the problem and get the solution of the problem by standard procedure that they have learned or with just their tricks. Especially, it is more difficult to observe learning on several subjects that experiment cannot be performed or multifaced answers are requried like literature, sociology,etc.
A measure of observation of learning is essential for the goal of the class. But excessive observation and wrong method of observation makes student exhausted and lose interested in studying. Both teacher and student should device effective methods of observation of learning and the observation should be reasonable,non judgemental, and even interesting. Teacher cannot observe exactly and completetly whole class students alone. One of good example is here to solve the problem: Peer observation, two or three class mates study together, test each other by game or discussion based on what they learned in class and studied and teach what they don't know each other under teacher's guidence.
Learning is observable but not really and completely. Therefore, we don't need to focus on the observation much. We definitely know the purpose of observation of learning. The purpose of observation is checking whethere they are understanding the subject well and make good a deficiency not to grade the students and not blame about they are fall behind.
2 comments:
I agree with much of what you said: that learning is observable only to an extent. Learning cannot fully be observed through observation alone, but observation is certainly one great option for assessing how our students are doing. Observation, I think, can often reflect a great deal about where the student is at in terms of his or her learning. However, i agree with you that this observation does not provide us a clear picture. Students can, in fact, show teachers they understand (through rote, memorization of facts and algorithms, etc) but may not actually have developed full understanding. Sometimes, thoroughly assessing a student's understanding may involve assessing in other ways than observation alone.
All this inquiry just makes us become more aware of how we self-assess, how we respond in different situations.
I hope you begin to observe your responses in different venues and reflect on what that means to you as a learner....as an educator.
There is always a collaboration, like an audience and a performer, but our own stories are complete3ly valid, made more valid in reflection....
I am expecting many more narrative examples in the blogs....it is a natural progression.
Thanks for all your great insight.
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