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There is a way to do peer observation wrong that leads to anxiety, distrust, tension, and confusion. But the good news is there’s a way to do it right, and if you’ve completed this course, you have a good idea of how to create peer observation programs that enhance reflection, innovation, confidence, and community around teaching. When you take the time to be transparent about what good teaching means, rooting your conversations in a common language, you can actually create peer observation programs that reach all of these research-based benefits. That shared understanding of good teaching is what’s going to allow you to lay the foundation of an effective peer observation program. You can use existing instruments or you can develop your own to meet your contextual needs, but by grounding these instruments in evidence-based teaching practices and making sure that you take the time to develop clarity and to practice your skills, you will develop a peer observation program that enhances the community related to teaching at your institution.
On behalf of Claudia and myself, thank you for taking time to complete this peer observation training course. We hope you’ve enjoyed it and that you’ve found key takeaways that are going to allow you to establish a peer observation program that enhances teaching excellence at your institution. If you have any questions, we encourage you to engage in the discussions that are embedded in OneHE or to reach out to us directly at [email protected]. We are happy to continue this conversation with you.
- While poorly conducted peer observations can lead to anxiety, distrust, tension, and confusion, well-conducted peer observations benefit faculty and institutions by developing teaching reflection, innovation, confidence, and community.
- By creating structured, transparent experiences rooted in a common language, we can maximize the benefits of peer observation. A shared understanding of what good teaching is lays the foundation for effective peer observations.
- Peer observers can use or adapt existing instruments to establish clarity and foster instructor reflections early in the process. They can enhance their skills by grounding themselves in evidence-based teaching practices and observing them in action.
DOWNLOADS
- CTB Observation Process Overview document (Google doc, opens in a new tab)
- Teaching Observation Instructor Worksheet (Google doc, opens in a new tab)
- Observation Report Form (Google doc, opens in a new tab)
Thank you for taking this ‘Transforming Teaching Through Peer Observation’ course which has been developed with Lauren Barbeau and Claudia Cornejo Happel. We hope you have enjoyed it. Remember to mark this lesson as ‘Mark Complete’ to earn your Course Completion Badge.
References:
- Barnard, A., Croft, W., Irons, R., Cuffe, N., & Bandara, W. R. P. (2011). Peer partnership to enhance scholarship of teaching: A case study. Higher Education Research and Development, 30(4), 435–448.
- Bell, M., & Cooper, P. (2011). Peer observation of teaching in university departments: a framework for implementation. International Journal for Academic Development. 18 (1), 60–73.
- Hammersley-Fletcher, L., & Orsmond, P. (2005). Reflecting on reflective practices within peer observation. Studies in Higher Education, 30(2), 213–224.
- Hanson, J. (1993). Observing classroom teaching in higher education: A case study. Quality Assurance in Education, 1(3), 26–30.
- Kell, C., & Annetts, S. (2009). Peer review of teaching embedded practice or policy-holding complacency? Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 46 (1), 61–70.
- Lomas, L., & Nicholls, G. (2005). Enhancing teaching quality through peer review of teaching. Quality in Higher Education, 11(2), 137–149.
- Nguyen, P. V. (2023). Collaborative peer observation of teaching: enhancing academics’ collegiality and collaboration. Reflective Practice, 24(4), 524-542.
Discussions
What’s one insight or strategy from this course that you plan to apply in your next peer observation - either as an observer or the person being observed? Why does it stand out to you?
Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below.