Back in our non-camera-enabled studio, we've got some thoughts for you today about how observation can be made more purposeful. Often found as an initial activity at the start of student teacher placements, it can sometimes be a missed opportunity if student teachers simply stand at the back and try to make sense of what's going on in a busy classroom in an unfamiliar school.

That's why we got some top-quality school colleagues in to discuss the challenges of making observation purposeful, and some simple strategies to give things a little more structure. They produced some clips, and we're bringing you those today.

After that, we flip things around and look at those moments where mentors are observing student teachers and giving feedback. What can we do to make those experiences even richer?

We hope there's something in there to get you thinking if you work with student teachers, whether inside or outside Wales.

Thanks to all our colleagues who helped with this project: Sioned Dafydd, Lucy Donovan, Nia Lockett, Lauren Rees, Scott Morgan, Rhian Staples and Rhian Wyn Griffiths.

-------------------------------------

Recorded in Studio B2.10A at Cardiff Metropolitan University's Cyncoed Campus on 28th February 2025.

Making Student Teacher Observations Purposeful