Deconstructing lesson observation: Building better teaching and learning For questions about observation, this is the place to be! Event details: 25th February 2016, City of Westminster College – 9.30am – 4.00pm £150.00 - no VAT What’s it all about? There’s been a fair bit of talk about lesson observation throughout the education sector in recent times. Many providers have made changes, some minor, some bold. Others have continued as they are. At the very least, we’re questioning what we are doing, and that’s always a good thing. Whether you’ve made changes or not you might be asking questions like: • What are the potential pitfalls if we make a change? • How do we measure quality without a grade? • How will we manage performance without a grade? • We’ve made a change but how do we know if it’s working? • How do we get teachers to embrace observation and improvement activity? • How do we ensure standards don’t slip? • If we are doing lots of learning walks, talking to learners, peer observations and other evaluation and improvement activity, do we even need full observations anymore? This event will deconstruct lesson observations, exploring why we use them and what we are hoping to achieve. We will look at all the different aspects of observation and explore what works, what doesn’t and help make decisions about the elements and outcomes we want to lose and to keep. To book for space, email Nicola Bacon, Business and Communications Manager at nicola@deborahmcveyltd.co.uk

1. © Deborah McVey Ltd 2016
Deconstructing lesson observation: Building better teaching
and learning
For questions about observation, this is the place to be!
Event details:
25th February 2016, City of Westminster College – 9.30am – 4.00pm
£150.00 - no VAT
What’s it all about?
There’s been a fair bit of talk about lesson observation throughout the education
sector in recent times. Many providers have made changes, some minor, some bold.
Others have continued as they are. At the very least, we’re questioning what we are
doing, and that’s always a good thing.
Whether you’ve made changes or not you might be asking questions like:
 What are the potential pitfalls if we make a change?
 How do we measure quality without a grade?
 How will we manage performance without a grade?
 We’ve made a change but how do we know if it’s working?
 How do we get teachers to embrace observation and improvement activity?
 How do we ensure standards don’t slip?
 If we are doing lots of learning walks, talking to learners, peer observations
and other evaluation and improvement activity, do we even need full
observations anymore?
This event will deconstruct lesson observations, exploring why we use them and
what we are hoping to achieve. We will look at all the different aspects of
observation and explore what works, what doesn’t and help make decisions about
the elements and outcomes we want to lose and to keep.
We will:
1. Deconstruct observation
 Dissect the different parts of the observation process and consider what each
of them does / does not achieve

2. © Deborah McVey Ltd 2016
 Challenge our perceptions about observations
 Consider the processes from all angles and the impact they have on
improving teaching and learning – or not!
2. Explore options for observation
 Consider models currently being used
 Develop an understanding of the common pitfalls with different models
 Investigate the difference between truly ungraded developmental
observations and those that masquerade as such
 Figure out how to really know your provision whether you grade or not
3. Focus on building a positive culture of improvement
 Identify a range of strategies we can use to get that ‘open door’ and ‘come
and see’ culture we seek
 Differentiate between observers and observers who are also improvers
 Develop real insight into how the little things we do as observers / improvers
make a lot of difference
4. Forget feedback and action planning: Discover the power of ‘conversations
about learners’ and actually planning
 Question current feedback and action planning models and what they result
in
 Explore different post observation possibilities and the impact they can have
 Consider techniques for ‘conversations about learners’
 Try out a simple model that teachers can fully engage in
By the time we are done we will have ripped observations apart, and put together a
picture of what we really want to do to improve the quality of teaching, learning and
assessment. As we go through the day, we will reflect on our own practices and
what we want to do differently.
With the new knowledge and depth of understanding you will gain, you should be
able to return to your provider with confidence about your next steps to improve the
use of observation activity to build better teaching and learning.
About Deborah
With an impressive reputation across the education sector, Deborah is a highly
regarded, influential education coach, consultant, and trainer.
Deborah combines her years of inspection experience with her understanding of
how colleges improve, having worked with many to support improvement,
particularly related to teaching and learning. The focus of her work has been the

3. © Deborah McVey Ltd 2016
adaption of observation processes; improving the skills of observers; and making
improvement happen. Her reputation for supporting providers to deliver
outstanding teaching and learning has grown rapidly in recent years.
Deborah is known for her dynamic and engaging interpersonal skills and 'down to
earth' approach. Her insight into what makes learners, teachers, observers, and
managers tick allows her to guide teams towards a positive improvement culture.
To book for space, email Nicola Bacon, Business and Communications Manager at
nicola@deborahmcveyltd.co.uk