My science goal for this cycle is based on student learning and my ability to appropriately assess my students. My main focus of assessment, at this point, is the students' notebook stops. I am trying to increase the number of notebook stops per lesson and provide different media for their notebook stops. For example, I might have them do their first stop on an index card and turn it in. Then their second might be done on their Moodle account on the student tablets. Then their last might be actually done in their notebook. I feel like the more methods of collection I have, the better chance I have at identifying misconceptions, student strengths, new wonderings, etc. My critical friend came in to observe me and was able to count the number of notebook stops that were included in my lesson, the media in which I had them post their notebook stops, and compare the number of stops completed to the number of stops in my lesson plan.
Having a critical friend is extremely beneficial when trying to collect data. It gives an outside perspective and allows you to focus on teaching, rather than collecting data on your own. I found it very useful to be able to teach my lesson as usual and then analyze my data afterward. Another use for critical friend, that I might try to recruit her for next cycle, would be to have that person come and observe me for the purpose of helping me create my content goals. Sometimes have a different perspective on my instruction can help identify an area that I might need to improve on. As beneficial as critical friends are, they should, in my opinion, be used any time their is opportunity.