On-Task Behavior Observation Form

This observation form is an easy way to collect data on engaged time on-task and off-task behaviors within various school settings. Using the entire form with 15-second intervals, your total observation time will be around 20 minutes. This form also allows you to collect data on same-sex peers to serve as a comparison group. (You can enlarge and/or print the form by clicking on the image below.)

Definitions of Behavior Codes:
ET (Engaged Time): If none of the off-task behaviors occur at any time during the interval, mark engaged time. This includes times when the student is looking at the teacher or classwork, actively responding (i.e. writing, reading, participating appropriately, etc) throughout interval.
M (Motor Off-Task): Any time the student is observed to be out of his/her seat, fidgeting or playing with objects, etc. These behaviors must occur for more than 3 seconds at a time to be recorded.
V (Verbal Off-Task): Any time the student makes noises, hums, sings, talks without being called on, etc.
P (Passive Off-Task): Any time the student looks away from his/her work or the teacher for more than 3 seconds at a time.

Definitions of Instructional Settings:
ISW (Independent Seatwork): students required to remain at station working independently on assignment
TDWC (Teacher Directed Whole Class): students required to remain at station taking notes, listening, and/or completing exercises while teacher lectures
SGW (Small Group Work): students required to remain at station working with small group of peers on assignment

How To Use the Form:
1. At the beginning of the observation, record the setting in which the observation is taking place. If the setting type changes during the observation, indicate the new setting and when it changed by marking the interval.

2. Every 15 seconds, record the behavior observed during that interval by circling one of the behavior codes. Only one code should be circled per interval.

3. Every third interval, observe the behavior of a same-sex peer and record in the shaded box. Be sure to record the behavior of a different same-sex peer during these intervals (don’t observe the same peer for every peer interval).

4. After the observation, tally the number of ET, M, V, and P behaviors observed separately for the target student and the peers. If you use every interval on the observation sheet, there are a total of 54 intervals for the target student and 27 intervals for the peers. Divide the tallied numbers by the total number of intervals to obtain a percentage of time in each behavior.