Observing Joy: An Observation Protocol to Assess Joyful Learning in STEAM Classrooms

• In Event: Innovative Approaches to Teacher Development, Classroom Observations, and Addressing Educational Inequities

Abstract

This paper presents initial work in developing and validating classroom observation protocols with the longer-term goal of creating joyful and humanizing STEAM learning experiences. The protocols provide a sensitizing framework to support qualitative field notes as well as the collection of quantitative measures of student engagement and affect. Our initial instruments were iteratively developed and tested over a 5-month period working in a 5th grade computer science enrichment classroom. We share related work, theoretical background, development process, and initial results from validation and reliability testing.

Authors

• Michael S. Horn, Northwestern University

• Melanie West, Northwestern University

• Cameron Luke Roberts, Northwestern University

• Ozivell Ecford, Northwestern University