Step 7: Record Observations
After a session ends, Spark prompts you to record observations for each student. Doing it now, while the session is fresh, is the easiest version of this task.
Two Ways In
- Note Observations right off the summary screen you just landed on.
- Observations: Complete Now on the session on your schedule, any time later.
The prompt only appears while observations are still missing, so if a completed session shows nothing, you are done with it.
What You Fill In
The form opens to the first student in your group, with their name and the week the observations cover at the top.
Strengths and Challenges offer the same ten options: Engagement, Participation, Accepting Feedback, Articulates Thinking, Focus, Listening Skills, Teamwork, Confidence, Working Independently, and Managing Frustration.
- Pick more than one in either column.
- Picking something as a Strength rules it out as a Challenge.
- Each column also has Not Applicable, for when nothing on the list fits. You can use it in one column but not both, so at least one real Strength or Challenge is always required. If the week was all strengths, mark Challenges as Not Applicable.
There is also an optional Notes field for anything else worth remembering. Notes save to the student’s profile log.
Working Through the Group
The button at the bottom right shows the next student’s name, and clicking it saves that student and moves you on. Work through each student the same way. On the last one the button reads Save & Close.
They Cover the Whole Week
Observations are weekly, not per session. You can come back after any session that week and adjust what you recorded - nothing locks until the week closes on Saturday.
Next
Step 8: Clear Your Action Items