Faculty Observation of Teaching
Learn more about how to request and prepare for a teaching observation by a colleague for either your in-person, online, or hybrid course. This initiative represents a collaboration between the Center for Faculty Excellence, UCAT, and Digital Learning.
Having a colleague observe your teaching or review your course can 1) advance teaching skills and confidence, 2) provide evidence of teaching excellence in the RP&T or annual review process, and 3) foster a culture in which teaching is openly and enthusiastically discussed amongst faculty.
Participants will identify a full-time faculty partner outside of their department. Each faculty member will observe one of their partner’s in-person or synchronous classes or review an asynchronous online course.
- If faculty want to be assigned a partner rather than identifying a partner, the registration will provide an opportunity for such a request.
What happens before and after the observation/review is as important, if not more important than what happens during the observations/review. The following suggestions are designed to help faculty members maximize collegial teaching observations/course reviews.
*To be eligible for an incentivized Faculty Observation of Teaching, your partner must be from another unit.
Determine Your Purpose(s)
Identify one or two purpose(s) of the observation/review. This will help you to select your partner and increase the likelihood that the observation/review will yield information that meets your needs. Use this list of questions to help you determine your purpose. Read More.
In-Person Observation
Before the Observation, Select and Meet with Your Observer/Reviewer: Select a colleague who has expertise and insights related to the purpose of your observations. Schedule a meeting with them to discuss 1) the purpose of the observation/review, 2) the context of your course, and 3) the optimal date and time for the observation/review. These suggestions can guide your meeting.
During the Observation/Review, Teach and Observe: Introduce the observer/reviewer to your students and then conduct class as you normally would. The observer/reviewer should remind themselves of the purpose of the observation and take notes that will facilitate a debriefing session with the instructor. These hints will guide observers/reviewers and keep them focused on the agreed purpose.
After the Observation/Review, Debrief and Document the Experience.
- Debrief: Within a week to 10 days following the observation/review, meet to debrief the experience. Discuss what was observed/reviewed and how it relates to your purpose and how this infomrmation can help you enhance your teaching.
- Document: Ask your partner to document the experience. If they agree, you can include this in your future RP&T and annual review documents.
A copy of the documentation should be provided to the instructor. Partners should not disclose information from the observation/review or share documentation with others without the consent of the instructor.
Online Observation
Before the Observation: The course instructor completes the Instructor Input Form to provide the peer reviewer with contextual information about the course.
During the Observation: The peer reviewer assesses how the instructor addresses each of the five categories using the Peer Review Guide for Online Teaching, noting strengths and areas for improvement.
After the Observation: The reviewer and instructor debrief the experience to discuss observations and how they can inform teaching enhancements.