Feedback observation sessions are a great tool for professional development within your Swim School. These observation sessions allow Swim Schools to analyse, critique and reflect on their learn-to-swim program and also their teacher’s performances.
Tips for conducting feedback observation sessions
- Ensure the person carrying out the session is completely familiar with all policies, teaching methods and terminology used at the Swim School.
- During the session be sure to situate yourself in a position where you will be able to see and hear the instructor involved without causing any interference to the lesson.
- Be professional. Try to position yourself away from parents and be discrete with your recording procedure.
- Follow a consistent format by recording on a feedback form, then make notes or expanding on points.
- Discuss the feedback form with the instructor but be sure to go though the feedback in a place that will not cause any embarrassment to either party.
- Photocopy the feedback form and give a copy to the instructor involved. Place the other copy in the staff record book.
Feedback observation sessions should not be seen as an assessment of a persons’ teaching ability, but rather a constructive means of providing positive feedback to all teachers at the Swim School. The feedback should be intended to help everyone become highly qualified teachers through continual training, retraining and positive feedback. It should also be used to identify areas that your program can be improved and highlight areas the Swim School can work on during their in house professional development sessions.