Using Observa as a Learning Tool

Observa is a technology based teaching model. Students will be required to video tape themselves teaching a set lesson, that he/she has created, to a class. Then he/she will watch their video. As they watch the video he/she will record instruction time, activity time, wait time, equipment managament, and student management. Students will also be required to keep track of general and positive specific feedback, skill corrective and behavior corrective feedback. This is to help students recognize their teaching strengths and weakenesses.

This program is geared mostly towards Physical Education teachers, because we are trying to see how active the students are being over instruction. We also want to see how much feedback the teacher is giving to the students for success.

Objectives

Sucessful use of technology
Determine type of instruction
Determine teaching strengths and weakenesses
How active students are

Lesson 1: Introduction

Successful use of recording equipment (video camera, microphone, tripod)
Develop lesson plan
Video tape teaching lesson to class

Lesson 2: Observa Program

Teach students how to use Observa program
Take students step by step through process on computer

Lesson 3: Results

Students will watch the video of their lesson and record times of appropriate categories
Students will rewatch their lesson and record categoies on observa program
Print out resuts then write a one page reflection on what was learned from this process

I used this program when I attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha for the undergraduate students. I felt it was very beneficial for them because it helped the students see themselves teaching. They could visually see how they taught and what they needed to work on.