Observation Forms
Form Categories
How to use categories like Subject Area, Grade Level, and Class Period to organize observation data
Form Categories
Section titled “Form Categories”Categories let you tag observations with contextual information like the subject area being taught, the grade level, or the class period. When a category is attached to a form, observers select values for each category during the observation. This data flows into reports, enabling you to filter and compare results by subject, grade, or any other dimension.
How Categories Work
Section titled “How Categories Work”- Form managers create categories (e.g., “Subject Area,” “Grade Level,” “Class Period”) with items (e.g., “Math,” “Science,” “ELA” under Subject Area).
- Categories are attached to forms. In the form builder, use the Details section in the right panel to add categories to a form.
- Observers select values during observations. When a coach starts an observation with a form that has categories, the sidebar shows dropdown menus for each category. The observer selects the appropriate values (e.g., Subject Area: Math, Grade Level: 5th Grade).
- Results can be filtered by category. In the Results page, you can break down observation data by category — for example, viewing average scores for Math observations vs. Science observations.
Adding Categories to a Form
Section titled “Adding Categories to a Form”- Open the form in the form builder.
- In the right panel, find the Details section.
- Click + New to add a category.
- Select a category from the dropdown or create a new one.
- Repeat for each category you want to attach.
To remove a category from a form, click the remove button next to the category name.
Creating New Category Items
Section titled “Creating New Category Items”Category items can be created in two places:
- In the form builder — When adding a category to a form, you can create new items for that category.
- During an observation — Observers can add new items to a category inline from the sidebar if the value they need isn’t listed.
Common Category Structures
Section titled “Common Category Structures”| Category | Example Items | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Subject Area | Math, Science, ELA, Social Studies, Art, PE | Compare observation data across subjects |
| Grade Level | K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th–8th, 9th–12th | Analyze patterns by grade band |
| Class Period | 1st Period, 2nd Period, Homeroom, After School | Track observation distribution across the day |
| Department | English, STEM, Fine Arts, Special Education | Group results by department for reporting |
How Categories Appear During Observations
Section titled “How Categories Appear During Observations”When conducting an observation, the Details panel in the right sidebar shows each category attached to the form. The observer sees a dropdown for each category and selects the appropriate item. Categories can also be added or changed after the observation is created.
Categories in Reports
Section titled “Categories in Reports”Categories are a key dimension in the Results page. You can filter summary reports, form totals, and staff results by category values to see patterns in your observation data. For example, a principal might filter results by “Grade Level: 3rd Grade” to see how instruction differs across third-grade classrooms.