The Place of Peer Observation in Learning to Teach: Can it Make a Difference in the Teacher’s Career?

Teachers are at the heart of the learning-teaching process. the education system which needs to be reformed has two important legs related to the teaching process: initial teacher education and teacher development. teachers’ attitude towards teacher learning and development is a pivotal issue facing the education world. the problem with initial teacher education is with which skills and knowledge student-teachers will be equipped during their studies whereas the problem with professional development is the attitude teachers assume towards teacher learning. teachers usually suppose their learning is over when they receive a degree. however, teacher learning is a lifelong or continuing process. the qualifications teachers acquire during university studies seem to become insufficient. the teachers who get stuck in a teaching rut need to find a starting point to evaluate their teaching styles and to enhance the quality of their teaching practices. peer observation of teaching, which is widely-used for developmental, evaluative and peer review purposes at schools and universities, can be an effective alternative to learning to teach and teaching to learn. it can really produce better student outcomes through reflective teaching practices provided that it is tailored to meet teachers’ needs, interests, expectations and goals. teachers need a supportive, people-oriented and constructive atmosphere to improve their pedagogical skills and knowledge and to learn to excel in teaching. the attitudes they assume towards professional development can influence their willingness to adopt or resist waves of change and innovation in education. to measure this attitude, the survey conducted at university showed that peer observation of teaching can enhance the quality of teaching and teachers’ practice as well as encouraging them to discuss pedagogical issues openly. teachers can be educated at university, but following their graduation, they cannot be developed.