Classroom observation of teachers is an important tool for education policy and research. By observing teachers in the classroom, it is possible to measure the impact of training programs and other interventions on teachers and, in turn, on student learning. Classroom observation can help education managers benchmark the performance of schools and school systems in important areas such as teachers’ use of instructional time and educational materials, student engagement, and use of best-practice teaching techniques. It can provide school directors and mentors with formative feedback for individual teachers. And for school systems moving toward performance-based promotion and compensation, classroom observation is an essential element of a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of individual teachers. However, in order to generate useful data, classroom observations must use a standardized method and be carried out by trained observers.
The two methods most widely used in developing countries are Stallings "classroom observation system" and CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System). For more information on both, and for free software to conduct Stallings observations using an Android-enabled device, see the links below.
Stallings classroom observation system: What is it and how to use it
CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System): What it is and how to use it
Learn how to download the Stallings instrument software
Additional resources
Assessment of Reading and Classroom Observation Instruments
Measures of Effective Teaching in Developing Countries study
Gates Foundation Measures of Effective Teaching in the US
- Gathering Feedback
- Identifying Effective Classroom Practices
- MET Reliability of Classroom Observations
Published: October 2017
