Supervised Teaching in Anthropology Anthropology 398T, Fall 1997 Prof. Samuel M. Wilson Department of Anthropology, University of Texas

In-Class Evaluation Assignment

due October 9th

This assignment will allow you to observe how students respond to the way material is presented in a lecture class. As students, we're used to watching the instructor. As an instructor, you must learn to pay attention to the students and understand their reactions. This assignment will allow you to focus on how students react to the way information is presented in lecture. For this assignment, you must obtain the permission of an instructor to sit and on his or her class.

In the class, situate yourself so that you can see the students while being as unobtrusive as possible. Prepare an observation sheet or set of notes before going to the class. On this sheet list a series of class events, and then try to record the student reactions to each these events. Try to be sensitive to what is going on in various parts of the classroom; picked several areas (for example the front few rows, the back row, and one or two other areas) and try to observe the different reactions in each area.

Here are some examples of classroom events you might observe; others are possible:

the instructor's entry
opening remarks of the instructor
instructor¼s dress and demeanor
how the topic of the day is introduced
the way the instructor offers examples
transitions from one topic to another
invitation of student response
the way the instructor answers students questions
other interactions between the instructor and students
the way the instructor summarizes the material at the end
the instructor¼s use of humor
the close of the class
what happens after class

Also, ask the instructor for a syllabus and discuss the following:

What are the course objectives or goals?
How have the readings been chosen? How do they relate to the goals and structure of the course? How well do they work?
What are the evaluation or testing strategies, and how do they relate to the objectives?

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