Peer Classroom Observation

Practice-based knowledge is increasingly becoming the new foundation for professionalism of teachers and teacher education. Research focusing on practice-based knowledge provides new theoretical base for professional development of teachers. School-based teaching research therefore draws much attention.School-based teaching research emphasizes the key role of teacher autonomy in the research, since it enables teachers who have the practice-based knowledge to contribute to the research itself. Recent years witnesses the rapid development of school-based teaching research in China. Many effective approaches have been accumulated while conducting this kind of research in primary and secondary schools. Each approach plays a different role with a specified aim. However, the most effective way should be on-spot teaching instruction in the form of class-room observation. It is the most popular form that teachers are most familiarized with. Although peer classroom observation is based on classroom observation, it differs from traditional classroom observation. Peer classroom aims to achieve professional development of teachers. The feasibility of school-based peer classroom observation renders it possible to well promote the new curriculum and teaching reform, which is also the aim of school-based teaching research.Firstly, the essay introduces the definition of school-based teaching research and the relationship between school-based teaching research and peer class-room observation. The basic factors of the concept are summed up through analysis of some comments from some scholars on the definition of school-based teaching research. Furthermore, after analyzing the home and abroad actualities, on the basis of it, we put forward that the efficient way of implementing the school-based teaching research is peer classroom observation. Then the definition and basal features and related theories are expatiated.Secondly, the essay focuses on introducing the types of peer class-room observation. Thirdly, the essay focuses on the question that how to implement peer class-room observation. Whether peer class-room observation fulfils the function of...