I see. After observing a class trainees have a day or two to reflect on it helped by a very simple questionnaire. For example, they have to refer to
- the atmosphere created in the classroom (appropriate for learning);
- the main objectives of the lesson and which have been achieved;
- the competences they wanted to develop in the students and which they have developed + objective evidence that they have developed them;
- instructions (short and clear + plus feedback asked);
- the involvement of the students in the task - were they motivated, did they work with a good rhythm.......?
- the students � talking time (was it greater than the teacher �s?);
- students �participation (did all participate or was a student/ a group of students forgotten?);
- personalized teaching (was it provided?)
- the types of interaction - were they appropriate? were they diversified (individual work, pair work, group work, whole class)?
- unexpected situations in the classroom and how they dealt with them/ solved them;
- Now, after their reflexion, what would they change if they could? Why?
So, when we meet, I usually follow the questionnaire. The trainee that was observed is always the first to talk, then the other trainees who observed the lesson and I am the last to speak. Trainees always refer to positive aspects first and then to aspects that have to be improved. I know this is an euphemism, but I do not use the phrase negative aspects.
I do the same. I mention the positive aspects, enhancing those I particularly liked with examples I wrote down while observing the lesson. (I write everything down when I am observing a lesson - always facts, never inferences. Eg: After the instructions students started to work, 5 students called the teacher. They said they did not know what they had to do in the exercise -- just facts. Then I can ask the teacher in the meeting, what did they do after you gave the instruction..... why didn �t they know what to do? .............). After the positive aspects I always focus on those that have to be improved. Here I ask a lot of questions, so that the trainee tells me what was not so good and why, not me.
Finally, I ask the trainee what we shall do to improve each of the negative aspects and we make a plan together.
Hope I could help.
Have a nice day.
mena