Turning visits between schools into peer observation opportunities for teacher development

Abstract

The article analyses Observation between schools as an expanded form of Peer Observation, proposing it as a key strategy for teacher professional development. The aim is to transform pedagogical visits between schools into opportunities for reciprocal learning, both for the visiting teaching team and for the visited team, encouraging reflection and shared improvement. The evolution of the experience of the Observation and Learning Training Experience Programme between Schools in the Balearic Islands is described, which promotes educational innovation through structured interaction between teaching teams from different schools. This proposal is based on several phases: detection of needs, establishment of observation indicators, collection of evidence, feedback session and implementation of improvements. The results show that the Observation between schools can promote professional reflection and methodological innovation, contributing to the consolidation of a continuous improvement culture in the schools. However, to ensure its effectiveness, rigorous planning, structured protocols and specific training for participating teachers are necessary. It is recommended to promote reciprocity in observations, establish transfer mechanisms to the school staff and promote collaborative strategies to facilitate a real and sustained impact. The study concludes that the Observation between schools can become a powerful tool to transform teaching practice and strengthen the learning network between schools, promoting innovation and cooperation as fundamental axes of the education system.