Classroom visits come in many forms — but learning walks and lesson observations are fundamentally different. If the lines between them get blurred, it can seriously affect staff morale and the quality of feedback you get.
Here's the key difference:
🔹 Learning walks are about the bigger picture.
🔹 Lesson observations are about one teacher, one lesson, one moment.
Learning walks are short, focused visits across multiple lessons. The aim is to build a broad understanding of what's happening across the school — not to make judgments about individuals.
You're looking for patterns:
It's about systems, not people. Think of it as school-level diagnostics, not individual feedback.
Lesson observations are longer, typically 30–60 minutes. They zoom in on one teacher's practice, usually with a follow-up conversation.
These can be:
Because they involve direct feedback, they carry more weight and should be used carefully — with transparency and clear purpose.
If a learning walk feels like a lesson observation, you've lost the trust.
If staff think they're being judged — even subtly — you won't get an honest picture.
That's why it's essential to:
When done right, both tools have value. But they serve very different purposes.
| Learning Walk | Lesson Observation | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5–10 minutes per room | 30–60 minutes |
| Focus | Systems, themes, environment | Individual teacher practice |
| Judgment | Non-judgemental | May include feedback or appraisal outcomes |
| Follow-up | Trends discussed with teams | 1:1 feedback meeting or coaching conversation |
| Frequency | Often regular | Less frequent (e.g. termly) |
| Risk | Misused = surveillance culture | Misused = performance pressure |
Know which tool you're using. Use it wisely. Communicate clearly.
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