Background
Many faculty have asked the DCAL directors to form an informal mentoring
network around teaching and learning at Dartmouth. We have a diversely talented
teaching faculty at Dartmouth and we can learn a great deal from each other.
DCAL will get this informal network started by setting up a system for visiting
colleagues' classes, not for evaluation purposes, but for sharing and learning
from each other. The goals of the classroom visits are to enable faculty to
share and reflect on their teaching approaches.
DCAL will support classroom visits by holding a discussion to get people
connected at the beginning of each term.
Recommendations
To ensure that classroom observations are useful and enjoyable for both the
observers and instructors we recommend the following:
1. Before the Classroom Visit:
- Meet or exchange email before the classroom visit takes place to discuss a
focus for the classroom visit (e.g., focus on lecturing style or use of small
groups in class) and share information. One option is to use or adapt the
pre-observation form developed by DCAL.
- Instructors should give the observer access to their Blackboard site or
website or a copy of their syllabus and other supporting material that might be
useful prior to the visit.
2. Classroom Visit:
- The observer should arrive early to class.
- The instructor should briefly introduce the observer.
- The observer may opt to use or adapt the observation form developed by
DCAL. Alternatively, they may simply take notes or observe a specific aspect of
the class session as agreed upon prior to the visit.
3. After the Classroom Visit:
- The observer and instructor should meet or exchange email within a week or
so of the classroom visit.
- The instructor should self-evaluate the class session. What was successful?
Less successful? Was this a typical performance?
- The observer should provide honest, constructive feedback. Focus on the
teaching and be open to new/different teaching strategies. Some examples of
useful, constructive feedback are given in the Constructive Feedback Form,
which was developed at the University of Minnesota.
Forms
The following forms are available and are meant simply to provide some
ideas. They should be adapted as necessary to meet your specific goals.
Based on:
Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at the University of Minnesota
website. http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/resources/peer/index.html
Linse, Angela R. (2006). “Faculty Peer Evaluation of Teaching,”
Peer-to-Peer Protocols: Faculty Peer Evaluation of Teaching, Winter
Teaching & Learning Conference, Temple University, January 12, 2006.
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