Faculty Peer Observation
"Peer Observation of Teaching in Higher Education has been Used and Evaluated Both as a Faculty Development Technique and a [Formative] Evaluation Tool for Several Decades"
Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (2017), University of Toronto
The sole purpose of Peer Observation of Teaching (PoT) is to promote learning about teaching, resulting in positive transformation in the teaching and learning process. It could be facilitated using the evaluation, developmental, or review models (Gosling, 2002). Rather than being used for evaluation or appraisal, PoT in this context aims to assist faculty in improving their teaching, drawing on the developmental and review models that are not judgmental and improvement-focused. Thus, it inculcates an informal and unofficial collaborative professional learning culture in faculty members across the University. Essentially, it is a voluntary formative learning process through which faculty members observe each other's teaching to enhance their personal and professional development through careful peer analysis of teaching practice.
To establish the PoT scheme as a system for improving teaching across the university, a council of the faculty who won the university teaching award will be formed. The faculty members will be the nucleus of observers. In discharging their roles diligently, they will go through specialized training for PoT through the Institute of Higher Education Leadership (ILHE). The council members will first pilot the system among themselves. Once they perfect the observation system and tools, they will then systematically expand their operation throughout the university. The council will keep adding more colleagues who shall first be trained as observers during the exercise.
In carrying out observation
In carrying out observation, the observed provide their teaching plans while the observer offers constructive feedback to a colleague being observed while teaching. It is grounded in a Community of Practice (CoP) philosophy and the longstanding practice of what is known as the observation cycle to promote collaborative learning opportunities in non-threatening and secure professional work contexts. Ultimately, observation practice is carried out by the very faculty itself in the spirit of continuous improvement.
In carrying out observation
The observed provide their teaching plans while the observer offers constructive feedback to a colleague being observed while teaching. It is grounded in a Community of Practice (CoP) philosophy and the longstanding practice of what is known as the observation cycle to promote collaborative learning opportunities in non-threatening and secure professional work contexts. Ultimately, observation practice is carried out by the very faculty itself in the spirit of continuous improvement.
Peer Observation of Teaching in Higher Education has been used and evaluated both as a Faculty Development Technique and a [Formative] Evaluation Tool for several decades.
Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (2017), University of Toronto
Peer Observation Cycle
The voluntary peer observation can be undertaken as and when considered necessary by faculty members. The PoT that utilizes the observation cycle includes, but is not limited to:
- A pre-observation conference.
- Classroom (Face-to-Face or Online) observation.
- Observation analysis and strategy session.
- A post-observation conference.
The model suggested here should never be employed unless both the faculty member being observed and the faculty observer/supervisor understand its use and agree that the data collected from the observation will help the faculty.
Every faculty member is free to select observer(s) from the list of experienced and trained faculty posted on the ILHE website.
View MoreContact Information
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the below information to contact ILHE.
P. O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.