V. Post-Observational Teacher Interview/Survey

The Post-Observational Teacher Interview can be carried out face-to-face, via video-conferencing, through email or other online communication, or over the phone, and should take place very soon after the observation.

The Post-Observational Teacher Survey can be administered electronically if there is no opportunity to conduct the interview face-to-face. If the observer intends to remain blind to the educational background of the teacher while the interview is being conducted, it is important to instruct the teacher, prior to the interview, not to reveal this information directly or indirectly.

The responses the observer obtains to the interview questions may often overlap considerably, as a teacher may answer some questions partially or fully before the question formally comes up in the interview protocol. The teacher may also add more to his/her explanation of one question while answering a later question. For this reason, it is important to look at the entire interview when examining the answer to any single question. The observer also needs to make a judgment about whether to ask a question if the teacher has already answered it during a different portion of the interview.

During the interview, teachers may refer to and elaborate on what occurred in other related lessons they have taught. It is important to remember to take into account the teacher’s comments only as they relate to the lesson that was actually observed, unless otherwise indicated in the manual. The Post-Observational Teacher Interview may also be used as an opportunity for the teacher being observed to reflect on his or her own practice. The goals and interests of interviewer will influence the degree to which this reflection is encouraged and facilitated.