Dhanesh-Indian grey hornbill

1.What have you learnt from your shadowing experience and the discussions you have had with the British Council Trainer? 

Please record your key learning points from the observations you have done and/or from your discussions with the trainer. This could be new understandings and/or techniques from your discussions or from the observation.

 I'm Ashok Chavan (SARP, DIECPD, Nashik), really privileged and honoured  to be part of 'SARP shadowing' 'Tejas-TAG Cs training, year 2, block 1' with British Council Trainer Mrs Ashlesha D'souza during 22-26 July 2019 held at Hotel PACE, Nandrabad.

 Firstly, I'd thank to British Council for availing this nice opportunity to learn, grow and reflect with the most experienced and talented trainers. This was quite an enriching experience for me to observe, discuss, reflect, present, and give positive and constructive feedback with Ashlesha ma'am during these 5 days.

Surendra Karawande Sir (SARP, RAA,A'bad) also shadowed with me. We both are very fortunate.

 What I did:

1. I observed most of the sessions using 8 observational tools provided by British Council to get familiar with training techniques and procedures.
2. I have had an opportunity to conduct 30 min activity based on 'Techniques for promoting speaking in the classroom' where I introduced technique- 'Jigsaw activity' on day 2.
3. I wrote 5 reflection sheets
4. I observed Tag micro facilitation 
5. I tried to give positive and constructive feedback to Tag Cs
6. Shared reflections over whatsapp group of SARPs and tweeted
7. Planned, prepared and presented activity, shared reflections with trainer as well as with Co-Sarp

What I've learnt from my trainer and shadowing experience:

Actually, I should write "What I've stolen from her."

1. Use of Gestures and facial expressions: Right from the first session, trainer (T) used gestures attractively and appropriately, while giving instructions,supporting participants (Ps), encouraging and praising them, etc. During 5 days her hand and head movements, facial expressions, smile and happiness over face, this impacted a lot on Ps to keep them encouraged and stay motivated. I'd like to have this quality in me.
2. Effective Monitoring skills: 'T' instructed, formed the groups and assigned the tasks. Then,she not only monitored unobtrusively, but helped Ps, encouraged them to discuss, clarified doubts, and approached each group to support, listened to those who had some issues respectfully. I could still hear,  "Discuss, discuss. I want noise in each group." In this regards, her monitoring skills were praiseworthy.

 I'll use this to support and mentor tag cs.

3. Instructions and ICQs: instructions were simple, precise and easy to understand associated with gestures. ICQs were asked.  For checking groups and taking attention some instructions were used beautifully. E.g. All the A's hands up, All the Bs show your left hand, etc.
4. Interaction patterns: Mostly group work technique was used every day. Sometimes, Ps worked in pairs. They also reflected as a whole class. Instructions for the whole class were given. Ps wrote reflections individually and never were allowed to leave the class until and unless they showed their room work. This was very impressive. Ps also got chance to discuss in mingle activity and hot date activity. They really enjoyed these with fun.' T' motivated Ps to come forward and share their ideas on board and she also gave opportunities some Ps to facilitate few activities. 

All the ways of interaction patterns as she tried, I'll certainly try.

5. Rapport with Ps: 'T' had good rapport with everyone. She always called Ps by their names. She instructed them to wear name tags and soon she easily recognized Ps. However, she also respected, supported, boosted their confidence. This turned into building rapport with all. The technique of nominating Ps was really useful to build rapport and I'd try this.

6. Proficient and confident use of English: 

Trainer articulated proficiently and conducted every session confidently. This was a great exposure about how to use language, for SARPs as well as Tag coordinators. 

7. Well prepared and well organized sessions:  All the sessions were well prepared and well organized.

8.  An abundant variety of skills:

            It had an abundant variety of skills

 like questioning, eliciting, encouraging, setting up activities, asking ICQs, grouping, checking answers, attracting attention, facilitating, monitoring, managing time, using gestures, engaging Ps all the time, collecting responses, enabling Ps to reflect, creating seriousness, observing, giving feedback,etc. These will certainly help Tag Cs to learn new ideas and try with tag teachers.

 We'd also like to try these things  in upcoming training.

9. The posture of trainer while conducting sessions: Mostly while giving instructions for the whole class, she stood  in front of the class in order to attract the attention of everyone and everybody could see and listen to her properly. However, she stood straight and didn't move while giving instructions. During supporting groups, she was standing behind the Ps or sometimes leaned to listen them carefully. 

This will also help me a lot to give feedback to tag cs and while conducting sessions.

10. Face the challenge and overcome: We should be optimistic and should continue our efforts. When she had some technical problem to connect laptop with projector, she didn't give up her efforts. Finally a technician came to solve the issue and it went ok. I learnt from this incident to try things before to ensure our tools are ok and if we've such problems, be optimistic and keep trying.
11. More focus on reflective tasks: Tag Cs should keep reflecting over the given tasks and more effort and focus was given on it. Trainer never allowed trainees to leave the class without completing reflection tasks of end of the day. 

What I learnt from discussions with Trainer:

1. We should always reflect on what went well and what didn't go well, how could I try it differently, what should I plan, what activities can be done, etc. 
2. Always respect trainees so that you will be successful to build rapport with them.
3. Monitoring must be done. But not like a trainer - that is standing and walking around. The facilitator must join the group and monitor to support participants and ensure they are all on track.
4. During tag observation, note down key points, but do write briefly.
5. While giving instructions stand in front of the class
6. After giving instructions if you could see some confusion among trainees, do repeat the instructions and ask ICQs.
7. Prepare, plan and then present and if you still have confusion, don't hesitate to speak with your trainer
8. Complete your day reflection
9. Give sandwich feedback to Tag cs, means positive and constructive

What I've learnt from my colleague- Surendra sir (SARP):

1. Be patient and natural during the sessions
2. Use polite language and using gestures or hand movements politely

Overall experience of shadowing:

1. Got the fair idea of using observational tools 
2. Understood training techniques and skills 
3. Experienced how to write observation reports
4. It was really challenging to sit at one place during the whole day and observing so little things using tools.
5. Got an opportunity to be observed and received feedback over my presentation
6. Enriching and knowledgeable experience for me…..!!!!!

2.How will this experience help you in training teachers and TAG coordinators and conducting observations? Please be specific when stating skills/techniques/methods you have learnt during the shadowing process

This 5 days shadowing with Ashlesha ma'am will certainly be useful for me in the future when I will support, mentor, observe tag Cs and conduct trainings. This will be also useful to design training programs.

This will help me in following ways:

1. Managing the class by using different sitting arrangements, using various interaction patterns while conducting tag cs trainings or any other training in the future
2. Monitoring the groups by standing, walking, moving around the class, encouraging and supporting Tag cs to reflect, share, discuss, learn and grow
3. Making appropriate use of gestures to attract the attention of Tag cs
4. Preparing and planning instructions and ICQs and using them effectively 
5. Introducing LOs at the beginning of the sessions and checking them at the end of the sessions
6. Helping tag cs to understand the importance of the reflection and encouraging them to give more weightage to 'Reflection and Action planning' in Tag meetings
7. Observing tag meetings and classrooms and giving constructive feedback to tag cs and teachers
8. Respecting Tag cs and tag teachers and motivating them to sustain Tejas project
9. Using observational tools to strengthen our observation skills and to support ESAs to use such tools to develop their skills of observation