ENGL388V Class Observation Notes

Environment
● The students sat in a semi-circular desk formation around the class
○ The professor said this orientation was the best for her to see all of the students
and easily come up to each of them (TAs agreed)
● The professor mainly used the whiteboard to write notes or diagrams
● The projector was used to put up a photo of the author of an article that was assigned to
the class.
● The UTAs (there were 2) sat close to the professor towards the front of the room, while
all of the other students sat around the perimeter of the room facing the professor.

Student Dynamic
● All of the students seemed pretty open and willing to participate; no awkward silences
between questions
● When the professor was talking, the majority of the students were paying attention. Only
one student was on his phone but still trying to be discrete.
● Class discussions were generally not dominated by one student. Some students did not
participate at all, but there were maybe 7 or so students who evenly shared answers and
their thoughts.
● Students do not seem to all know each others names (blended classroom)
● Students were respectful to each other when asked to work together. The students seemed
to stay on task and not have side conversations.
● Most students did have computers open while Professor was talking, but no one seemed
to be distracted by the open laptop.

UTAs
● Students easily approached TAs before and after class to ask questions about assignments
● TAs seem to have a large amount of responsibility.
○ TAs were responsible for leading certain sections of each class and some class
discussions, but not full classes entirely independently.
○ The discussion activities that the TAs are responsible for are very collaborative
with the students. For example, the TA was going over stasis theory and
constantly asking the students questions.
○ Professor gave the TA full range. Observed the TA but only jumped in at the end
to add some points once the TA had finished.
● During student activities, TAs were responsible for walking around and answering
student questions

Professor
● Was very approachable to students before, after, and during class
● Had a very upbeat personality and seemed to greatly enjoy her job
● Made jokes periodically during class - students seemed to enjoy it
● Did not act rudely towards any students, even when one student was on his phone
(professor simply came up to him and asked him to put it away since you cannot do
written work on a phone).
● Professor was very understanding towards one student who was unable to finish her draft
○ Had that student work with another student who did not really finish his draft
either