Jian's Teaching Observation

Logistics
Class Title: Short Fiction
Class Instructor: Georgina Kleege
Date Observed: 2/24/2010
What is the size of the class? 18 students
What is the make up of the class? (grads/u/gs? Women, age etc)
2 auditors (2 older men), 16 u (1 middle-aged women; 5 young women; 10 young men)
How is the class physically arranged? Rectangle tables against and parallel to each other in the middle of the small room

What is the social atmosphere of the class?
Friendly. Two plastic containers with home-made chocolate chip cookies; passing around to each student. Before the workshop begins, Georgina introduced Gina and me to the class in a humorous, welcoming tone.
What time did the class start?
1:30-3pm

Substance:

What were the activities of the class? The class workshopped two students’ pieces.
Were goals stated for the activities? Not really.
How were the activities conducted (non evaluative) Georgina Kleege talks first. Then the students say what they think of a piece they have read and then the class begins to comment on it.
Was text used (published or peer?)
Just the two student’s short pieces of fiction.
Lecturing? Discussion? Exercises? In-class writing?
It was a discussion session.
How many students participated? Of the eighteen students, seventeen of them participated.
Described interactions among peers and with professor?
The students make comments in a soft tone. Georgina acts as traffic cop to makes sure each student talk. She also tries to make humorous comments while interacting with the students and maintaining her authoritative tone.

Outcome

What was the atmosphere of the class?
Students maintained the same soft tone since the start of the workshop.
Were the students involved?
Yes.
Did the substance of the class have impact?
Yes. Although it was the students’ second workshop, they seemed prepared, highly motivated supported each other’s work, giving advice on craftsmanship.
How did the professor engage the students? How did the students engage each other?
When the students were silent, the professor began to summary the student’s piece and asked the class question and writer’s if she has any questions. The talkative students make funny comments on a piece about monkey and sexuality, referring to the animal as it and “human.” Everyone laughs.
Your general impression of the effectiveness of the class?
The class is supportive.
Did you talk to the professor and what did you learn?
Yes. I learned that teaching is more about the students rather than about the teacher. You are there help and encourage them to be a writer. Students might ask questions that might surprise you, so workshop is unlike a literature course that you are prepared and have more control.