Setting Up To Supervise

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Topic 5

• Setting Up To Supervise

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General Information

• There are many factors that must be considered
  when setting up to supervise a peer
• These include
• What data to collect
• How much time will be involved
• What the process itself involves
• What the person wants (or doesnt want!)
• How the information will be used
• You can lead a horse to water, but you cant make
  him drink. You can, however, salt the oats

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Other Items

• So you are going to observe someone, what next?
• Develop a code- what are you going to observe?
  What does the person want to know about? What do
  you want to document? Dont re-invent the wheel-
  use a code that is already there and adapt it for
  your needs if you can
• But were getting the cart before the horse!!!

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Setting up to Supervise

• Steps
• Determine who you will observe
• Set up a pre-observation conference
• Determine your code based on conversation from
  the pre-conference
• Take the code to your person and go over it with
  them
• Schedule the observation
• Observe
• Analyze the data
• Have a post conference
• Do another observation if necessary or the person
  want another observation done

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When analyzing the data

• Some guidelines
• Principle of data- does the question about what
  to look at reveal something that can be observed?
  In other words, would you be able to record data
  on what the person wants you to look at?
• Principle of subsumption- this means that the
  data you present must be digestible, concrete,
  and NOT a source of a great deal of psychological
  stress
• Principle of sameness- establish what you have-
  this is the same as..

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• Principle of loading- is the time right to tell
  the person what you found? (if you break
  subsumption, be careful of this one!)
• Principle of time- how much information can you
  hope to give the person in one session?
• Principle of energy- if you are tired- dont push
  it! Same goes for the person you observed
• Principle of sequence- some information is best
  presented first, other data last
• Principle of saliency- present what is important!

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Side Information

• A good observer is also a good listener. As you
  prepare to do the pre-conference, remind yourself
  to NOT finish sentences or break in when the
  other person is talking
• When you ask a question, let the person answer
• Be prepared for the pre-conference- do your
  homework with regard to getting questions ready
  to ask
• Be objective, not judgmental, be broad-minded,
  tactful and trustworthy

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Final Comments

• Questions to ask yourself
• Am I ready to help someone or not?
• Can I be objective and only report on what I
  observed, NOT on what I thought about what I saw?
• Can I let the person tell me what I should
  observe- rather than me telling them what I think
  I should observe?
• Can I listen and hear what they have to say?