Direct Observation

• What is a Direct Observation?
• Structure of Observation Assessment
• Advantages of Direct Observation
• Disadvantages of Direct Observation
• More on Direct Observation - Download the full pdf

WHAT IS A DIRECT OBSERVATION?

Direct Observation assessment is exactly as the name suggested – the assessors observe the students performing the assessment and see if they have ability to perform it properly. Practical skills particularly clinical related areas often use direct observation to assess students. Group work such as problem based learning may sometimes use direct observation to judge a student’s input. Observation assessment is only effective when it follows a systematic plan to help both the assessor and the student to focus what need to be observed and recorded. An oral assessment is often used as a follow-up assessment to supplement for any questions. Sometimes, there is no effective alternative to direct observation.

STRUCTURE OF OBSERVATION ASSESSMENT

The structure of an observation assessment greatly depends on the discipline in which the assessment is taken place, it also depends if the assessor is observing the entire work or only part of the work. In general, the assessor will observe for 5 -10 minutes, make a field note to help with feedback and grading, and maybe followed with an interview/oral assessment.

1. Problems should be related to real-world.
2. Unlike traditional method of problem solving where learners receive prior content knowledge to apply on well-defined problems, problems in PBL are not usually questions that students can easily answer with prior input of knowledge. They must explore.
3. Problems in PBL are presented to learners deliberately at the beginning of the learning process.
4. Problems should allowed teamwork that is the project is large enough for teamwork, and that each team member will benefit from the collaboration.
5. Teacher becomes a facilitator whose role can be a subject matter expert, resource guide and a task group consultant.
6. A good PBL problem should be given long enough time for learners to participate.
7. PBL is most effective if it is defined across multi-disciplines.

ADVANTAGES OF DIRECT OBSERVATION

• Observation may sometimes be the only assessment method possible.
• There can be no plagiarism or false reports.
• It is a great way to assess practical.

DISADVANTAGES OF DIRECT OBSERVATION

• Direct observation does not assess the higher-order levels of learning outcomes, and is often not adequate for a full assessment; oral questioning or other supplement assessments may be required.
• Direct observation assessment requires a lot of time to assess and to prepare thus, it is an expensive way of assessing.
• The presence of the observer can change the student’s performance as being watched can be intimidating for many students. Furthermore, the dynamic of the observation room may change as the observer/assessor enters. It is often debatable of whether the observer/assessor should be visible or hidden. So where, who and how the observation is being assessed are all factors which may affect a good observation assessment.
• To ensure high efficiency and reliability, clear grading standards for all parties are essential. However, grading criteria for observation assessment can be trivial to design and develop.
• Immediate feedback is useful, but sometimes that is difficult due to time constraints.
• Practical work is usually ephemeral and dissenting views may later be contested if notes or recordings are not documented clearly.

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