Maria Altieri
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Structured approach

Two new scheme teachers at De La Salle College Caringbah, Maria Altieri and Dilan Carestia, undertook a structured program of lesson observations and feedback as part of an AGQTP-funded activity to help the new teachers work towards accreditation with the NSW Institute of Teachers. Maria and Dilan were each observed for three lessons by a team that included their supervisors, the school's Project for Enhancing Effective Learning (PEEL) coordinator, Catholic Education Office liaison officer, Peter Webster, and an external consultant teacher.

As well, Maria and Dilan were members of each other's observation teams. When asked if it was daunting to be observed by so many people, Maria replied that the range of perspectives provided in the feedback outweighed her initial hesitation about the process. 'The different suggestions allowed me to select those things which I felt best suited my teaching style,' she said.

Dilan Carestia
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Dilan, too, found that having a diverse range of feedback drew attention to aspects of his teaching practice that he had never noticed before. 'Warm' feedback focused on teaching strengths while 'cool' feedback was given in the form of reflective questions. Dilan commented: 'It was then up to me to think about how to make some changes before the next lesson observation.'

Maria and Dilan received one-on-one guidance throughout the program from their mentors, Steven O'Connor and John Vassarotti. Each met regularly with their mentee to determine directions,reflect on and affirm good classroom practice, encourage experimentation and work out together what evidence was needed to meet the standards, and how it would be collected.

For more details about De La Salle's project and other schools involved in this cross-sectoral project, visit the Taking professional standards into practice website.