Assessing Literacy and Numeracy (ALAN) help desk

Overview

The Class observations page primarily allows teachers to update observations for students against learning progression indicators. 

Contents of this article:

• Overview
• How to access Class observations
• How to view Class observations
  • VIEW OBSERVATIONS BY SUB-ELEMENT LEVELS
  • VIEW OBSERVATIONS BY AREAS OF FOCUS
  • VIEW OBSERVATIONS BY ASSESSMENTS
  • The Class observations table
  • To view an observation (indicator status)
• How to enter and save your class observations
  • A. For one student
  • B. For multiple students
• How to download your class observations:
• How to generate observations in other PLAN2 features:

How to access Class observations

1. Select the PLAN2 tile on the ALAN homepage.
2. Select  the 'Observe' tile
   
3. Select the 'Class observations' tile
   

How to view Class observations

You can generate and view Class observations by selecting options from any of these filters:

1. View observations by Sub-element levels – this filter allows teachers to select the students and the individual indicators that they want to update or ‘observe’, either from individual sub-element levels or from DoE assessments.
2. View observations by Areas of focus - this filter allows teachers to select an existing ‘area of focus’ which they would like to observe containing a previously saved set of students and progression indicators.
3. View observations by Assessments – this filter allows teachers to select a set of progression indicators and observations mapped to specific DoE assessments.

VIEW OBSERVATIONS BY SUB-ELEMENT LEVELS

This filter allows teachers to select students and observe individual indicators from literacy and numeracy sub-element levels or from DoE assessments.

From the selection panel (left side of the ‘Class observations’ screen): 

1. Select the Browse by Sub-elements tab
   
   
2. Select Year level (you may select one or multiple year levels)
   
   
   
   
3. Select Class or group. You can use the search tool to find a class.
   NOTE: When multiple year levels are selected, the ‘Select class or group’ field will be disabled.  When this is the case, select your students from the ‘Select students’ field.
   
   
   
4. Select the Student/s you want to observe.
   
   
5. Next, select the progression indicators you would like to focus on.
   
   
   Select entire levels of indicators, or individual indicators from within levels, by ticking the corresponding boxes.
   
   Toggle the black arrows to expand levels:
   
   
   
   To confirm and continue with all selected indicators, select Done
   
   

6. On the initial side panel, use the Change observation source dropdown to choose the source of observations which you would like to generate against your selected indicators. Filter between teacher observations or observations from an assessment.

   
   NOTE: You will be shown the last observation entered from your chosen observation source.
   To view observations as at previous dates, please use the ‘Class observations analysis’ via ‘Analyse’ from the Home menu. 
   
   

   

   
   
   
   

7. Select Generate observations to generate the Class observations table.
   

VIEW OBSERVATIONS BY AREAS OF FOCUS

This filter allows users to select an existing area of focus that they want to observe or analyse (an area of focus includes a set of students and progression indicators)

In the selection panel (left side of the ‘Class observations’ screen), follow these steps: 

1. Select View observations by Areas of focus
   
   
2. Select a Year level and Class or group
   
   
3. A list of existing Areas of focus related to your selected Year and Class or group will be displayed. Select an Area of focus from the list. Details of your selected Area of focus will be displayed on the right side of the screen.
   
   

4. Select the Observation source dropdown to choose the source of observations which you would like to generate against your selected indicators. Filter between teacher observations or observations from an assessment. 

   
   NOTE: You will be shown the last observation entered from your chosen observation source.
   
   
   
   

5. Select Generate Class observations to generate the Class observations table.
   

VIEW OBSERVATIONS BY ASSESSMENTS

This filter allows users to select a set of progression indicators and observations mapped to a specific DoE assessment

In the selection panel (left side of the ‘Class observations’ screen), follow these steps: 

1. Select View observations by Assessments
   
   
   
2. Select a Year level and Class or group
    
3. Select Student/s
   
   
4. Select an Assessment
   
   
   
5. Select the Observation source dropdown to choose the source of observations which you would like to generate against your selected indicators. Filter between teacher observations or observations from an assessment. 
   
   When an assessment is selected via the 'View by assessments' tab, the observation source will default to observations from that chosen assessment. If you would like to see different observations against the assessment indicators, use the 'Select an observation source' dropdown and specify your observation source. 
   
   NOTE: You will be shown the last observation entered from your chosen observation source. 
   
   
   
   
    
6. Select Generate Class observations to generate the Class observations table
   

The Class observations table

• Your selected group, Area of focus or assessment that you are observing
  
• Your selected/filtered sub-element level/s and progression indicators
  
  
• Your selected student/s. Students' names are grouped by year level and sorted alphabetically.
  
  
  
• Each student's progression indicator status for each of the selected progression indicators. The indicator status is represented by colour and letter:
  • Not assessed = '-'
  • Not demonstrated = 'N'
  • Partially demonstrated  = 'P'
  • Demonstrated = 'D'
  • Consolidated = 'C'
    
    
    
    
    
• The table will show 15 rows at a time. Use the pagination to view the next rows. You can view all rows by changing 'Show 15 rows' to 'Show all rows'.
  
  
  

To view an observation (indicator status)

1. Click the indicator status to view the indicator status details. The 'Observation details' pop-up screen will display.
   
   
2. In the 'Observation details' pop-up screen, you will be able to view:
   • the last observation (indicator status)
   • the name of the class or student group where the observation was made
     • NOTE: If the observation was made in the student's previous school, 'Previous school' text will be displayed here instead of the class or group name
   • the subject associated to the class or student group where the observation was made
   • the date when the observation was made
   • the name of the teacher who made the observation
   • any comment entered with the observation
     
     

• You can view other previous observations entered for the student by clicking the View all history button in the 'Student observation history' pop-up screen.
  
  
  
  
  
• You can filter the observation history by selecting an option from the Filter by dropdown list.
• You can go back to the main 'Observation details' screen by clicking the Back link.
• Click the X button to close the 'All observations' pop-up screen.
  
  

How to enter and save your class observations

A. For one student

In the Class observations table, follow these steps:

• Click the indicator status to view the indicator status details. The 'Student observation history' pop-up screen will display.
• In the pop-up screen:
  1. Select a status
  2. Select if observation applies to entire indicator.
  3. If applicable, type in a comment in the comment field.
  4. Ensure that the correct class / group has been selected to save the observation against.
     
     NOTE: The 'in class / group' field will be auto-populated with the student's roll class or your selected student class/group.
     
     
  5. Click 'Save' to save your observation.
     

B. For multiple students

• Click the pencil icon for the progression indicator you want to observe. A pop-up screen will display.
  
• In the pop-up screen, follow these steps:
  1. Select a status
  2. Select if observation applies to entire indicator.
  3. If applicable, type in a comment in the comment field.
  4. Ensure that the correct class / group has been selected to save the observation against.
  5. Select 'Students' to mark as previously selected status.
  6. Click the 'Save' button to save your observations for the selected students.
     
     

How to download your class observations:

1. Click the 'Export as Excel' button located above the Class observations table.
   
2. The Excel file will be downloaded to your computer. 
3. Open the downloaded file in MS Excel to view and analyse the data. 

How to generate observations in other PLAN2 features:

You can view your generated observations and selections in other PLAN2 features

1. Click the 'Analyse' button and select a feature.