Opportunities to Respond

Peer observation is a proven strategy for increasing your effectiveness as a teacher. Research has shown that focused, specific, data-rich feedback and collegial conversations lead to real improvement in practice.

Each App in this suite is designed to give teachers feedback on one element of their practice. By inviting a colleague to observe how often you provide students with an opportunity to respond during a class, you can ensure your lessons are engaging.

Opportunities to respond: Frequency graph

What this App measures
This App measures the number of opportunities that a teacher invites a student response within a defined period of time.

Why that matters
Research shows that students who are given many opportunities to respond (or provide feedback) have a greater understanding of the lesson content, are more active in their own learning and are more likely to meet behavioural expectations. See more on the video.

What you need to know to use this App effectively
An opportunity to respond is an action by a teacher to elicit an oral response from students. This can include:
• Direct questions to individual students
• Whole-class queries
• Teacher statements
• Teacher gestures
Tap on the button each time you observe a colleague create an opportunity for students to respond.

What does the data show
The completed data will show when the teacher invited students to respond. If several opportunities to respond were offered in a concentrated period the graph lines appear darker. The graph is measuring how often the teacher gave students an opportunity to give feedback on their learning. See more on the video.

How the data can be used in teacher coaching
This App is a helpful diagnostic tool if student behaviour is a problem. It is possible there is a link between inappropriate behaviour and none or too few opportunities for students to provide feedback on their learning. A skilled coach will help a teacher reflect on this possibility.
Where student behaviour is not a problem, but student learning is not progressing as well as expected, this App will allow a teacher see how often they are collecting feedback about student learning?