The Observational Instrument of Best Practices: An Observational Instrument to Measure Best Practice Behaviors in University Teachers

Abstract

The concept of best practices emerged in various disciplines to explain the professionals’ adequate performance in their work-related setting. In the educational context, it means theoretical and practical knowledge which includes a differentiated conduct in other teachers and in different contexts, or observable operations which can be measured by instruments specially designed for this purpose. When the university teachers best practices are behaviors, observational methodology is the main procedure to study it. In this research, five university teachers’ behaviors during the class were analyzed, measuring them with an observational instrument, The Observational Instrument of Best Practices (OBEP), which allows the coding of indicator behaviors of best practices, including the posture, where they are looking and if the teachers address their students while they are explaining the class contents. Results show that the observational instrument is useful to measure behavioral best practices. Studied university teachers’ behaviors have best practices during their class, but they could improve them. Some suggestions are given.