Clinical Practice Focused Observation Resources
Clinical Practice Focused Observations
Welcome to the clinical practice focused observation webpage. This webpage contains resources that support focused observations, which are conducted quarterly by the university supervisor. Using a common observation protocol, form, and rubric, all teacher candidates across Cal Poly’s three credential programs are observed, assessed, and coached on 17 prioritized skills across the three-quarter clinical practice.
Focused Observation Protocol, Form, & Rubric
The main goal of the focused observation protocol is to provide teacher candidates, cooperating teachers, and university supervisors with the opportunity to have deeper, more meaningful conversations about teaching and learning. Each observation will have a particular prioritized skill(s) that is a focus of that particular observation. The accompanying observation rubric provides triad members with a detailed description of each prioritized skill across four performance levels. Below you can download the three important documents that support observations (i.e., protocol, form, rubric) and view clinical practice screencasts that explain each quarter of clinical practice.
Summative Evaluations
In addition to formative feedback that is provided via observations each quarter, the university supervisor will also engage the triad in reflective conversation, guided by three different summative evaluation tools. These summative assessments include the following: teacher education disposition evaluation (CPI), teacher education summative evaluation (CPII & CPIII), and the individual development plan (CPIII). Note: The summative evaluation tool used for observations 2.4 & 3.4 is the same document as the Teacher Education Observation Form. Please click on the links below to access these documents.
- Disposition Evaluation Form (PDF)
- Disposition Evaluation Form (Word.docx)
- Individual Development Plan
Gaining a Deeper Understanding of Each Prioritized Skill
The School of Education has created supplemental materials to support the triad in understanding each of the 17 prioritized skills. Please click on the links below to access these resources.
Domain A Observation Rubric Examples
This document contains the Domain A (Planning) observation rubric as the top row with a row below that contains possible examples across the four performance levels of each Domain A prioritized skill. These examples can help the triad to better understand each planning prioritized skill and the differences across performance levels.
Domain B Observation Rubric Examples
This document contains the Domain B (Classroom Environment) observation rubric as the top row with a row below that contains possible examples across the four performance levels of each Domain B prioritized skill. These examples can help the triad to better understand each classroom environment prioritized skill and the differences across performance levels.
Domain C Observation Rubric Examples
This document contains the Domain C (Instruction) observation rubric as the top row with a row below that contains possible examples across the four performance levels of each Domain C prioritized skill. These examples can help the triad to better understand each instruction prioritized skill and the differences across performance levels.
Example Lesson Plans
In the documents linked to below, you will find an example lesson plan for a variety of grades and disciplines. After each lesson plan, the planning rubric is included with evidence and scores provided for each Domain A (planning) prioritized skill. We hope these examples are useful to teacher candidates as they develop lesson plans.
- Example Scored Lesson Plan - Kindergarten
- Example Scored Lesson Plan - 6th Grade
- Example Scored Lesson Plan - 7th Grade
- Example Scored Lesson Plan - High School
Prioritized Skills Learning Modules
The School of Education has created learning modules on 7 of the 17 prioritized skills. These modules can be found on the Prioritized Skills Learning Modules webpage.