AE3 Assessment Center

The tools on this page are part of AE3's Peer Observation Process. New engineering faculty in the FastStart (formerly Teaching College) Program are observed using this process. Pairs of trained observers visit new faculty classrooms twice during the academic year. Observers are trained early in the academic year, and are generally faculty who have also completed the FASTStart/Teaching College Program. Observers also include Educational Specialists from AE3 and the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). Observers are generally not from the new faculty members' home department, and all aspects of the observation process are confidential.

 

One of the main themes of the Peer Observation Process is the concept of assessment, the root of which is assidere meaning "to sit beside." Our goals in this process are to encourage dialog about teaching, and to provide a sense of support rather than evaluation.


The Peer Observation Process consists of a pre-observation meeting between the instructor and the observers. The instructor is invited to share concerns or specific questions that s/he wants the observers to pay specific attention to. Observers will also ask for a description of the topics to be covered in the class to be observed. The instructor receives a copy of a self-reflection worksheet, which s/he will fill out ofter the observation. The instructor also receives a copy of the instruction instrument. Arrangements for videotaping are made, if the instructors wishes.

After the observation, the observers meet to review notes and share thoughts, and they draft a written description of what they saw. This is shared with the instructor at the post-observation meeting, where strengths and areas for improvement are discussed.

Please also see Feedback is More Effective When... and Peer Observation Etiquette for tips on effective observations.

The University of Nebraska's Peer Review of Teaching site also provides a great deal of useful information about this overall process.

If you wish to be involved in the Peer Observation Process either as an observer or an observee, please contact Laura Hahn.
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