For New Instructors: 

Observation is standard in teaching, and as director of writing, it is my responsibility to observe your teaching at least once per semester.

My purpose for this observation is three fold. First, I want to see how you’re approaching the material in your course. Second, I want to learn from your approach. Third, I want to see if there is any support I can provide to help you develop professionally. These kinds of observations are very useful to you, too, in that if you ever ask me to write a letter of recommendation for you, I can rely on this report for detailed information.

The procedure for this observation, once it is scheduled, is as follows:

1. I will e-mail you a few days before the observation to see what your goals are for this class meeting so I will know what to expect.
2. I observe the actual class. 
3. You will read my post-observation report and add additional comments you wish to be filed with your report. 

Early in the semester I will e-mail you and request a list of times and dates that would be convenient for your observation.  Please keep in mind that you should choose a class session in which you’ll be active with the class—don’t choose a date when you’ll be doing peer review, watching a film, etc.

If you’re teaching multiple sections, I only need to see you teach one section.  If you are teaching online, there is a different observation template for you. If you're teaching both online and face-to-face, I'll need to observe both.

If you have any questions about observation, please do not hesitate to let me know.  I’m looking forward to visiting your classes. 

For Experienced Instructors: 

Experienced instructors (who have received at least one positive teaching evaluations from our department) will participate in a peer observation. You will observe one peer, and one peer observe you. There are two very good reasons to make this policy change: (1) you will learn more from observing another instructor than you will from another report from me. I learn so much from these observations, and it’s time I stop hogging that opportunity for myself. (2) Once you complete this report, you can list on your CV that you have experience conducting official teacher observations for a program.  Being able to talk about what other instructors do in the classroom helps set you apart on the job market.

Procedures:

1.     Connect with a peer.  Everyone on this list must BOTH observe a peer and be observed by a peer. You can observe and be observed by the same person, but choose your peer wisely—choose someone from whom you can learn. (You can get the e-mail address of anyone involved in this observation from this e-mail.) 

2.     Schedule the observations.  Schedule these observations on days when your peer can really see you teach—don’t choose a day where you’re doing peer review or screening a film, etc.

3.     Complete this form and send it to BOTH me and your peer.

4.     Complete all these steps before week 14 of the semester. 

Tip:

 I found that taking my laptop into the classroom helps make this process less painful. I fill out parts of my form while I observe the class—especially in the downtime when students are working in groups or completing quizzes. If you don’t have a laptop, it might be helpful to take a copy of the form into the class with you so you can make notes that answer the questions on the form.

Reminder:

 Please remember that observation is a crucial part of teaching at a public institution. Even tenured professors who have 30 years of teaching experience are observed each year.

Being observed is a requirement connected to your funding and good standing with the department, so please take this as seriously as I do.