Sewanee Partners in Teaching
What is it? It is a voluntary program of Sewanee's Center for Teaching. It is a program of classroom observation by faculty peers. Its purpose is to enable faculty members who participate in this program to become better informed about their teaching by benefiting from the data gathered by a peer who observes several class sessions.
How does it work? Its basis is the ancient barter or exchange system. Two professors mutually agree to play the role of "classroom observer" for each other. It is likely best if, at a particular time, one partner is "the Teacher" and the other partner is "the Observer" and then at another time, the roles are reversed. It is possible to think of this work as a scientific study of the teaching and learning process in the Teacher's classroom. The Teacher needs to provide the Observer with instructional goals and intended strategies and teaching issues to be examined. The Observer needs to play the role of careful and honest gatherer of data as the classroom process unfolds. The Observer needs to describe, not evaluate. Teaching in a classroom is a many-dimensional process. The Observer needs to focus data-gathering on the agenda which is set by the Teacher. The period of peer observation should be more than just a single visit to one class but should not extend over the length of an entire semester.
How are Partners arranged? It is possible for two faculty colleagues to decide jointly that they wish to be Partners in Teaching. On the other hand, if you are a faculty member who wishes to participate, the Center for Teaching will work on finding you a suitable Teaching Partner.
Some Guidelines for the Program:
- The task of the Observer is to gather data, not to evaluate. Whatever conclusions result from the data gathered by the Observer need to be made by the Teacher.
- The Observer is bound by a pledge of confidentiality not to discuss the classroom process with anyone other than the Teacher.
- While the Observer and Teacher are working together, there will be short meetings before the observation so that the Observer is informed about the goals and teaching strategies of the Teacher. Following the observation, the Partners will meet promptly, so that the data gathered by the Observer is made available to the Teacher.
- Since this program of voluntary peer observation has a very different purpose from the observations which are mandated by the University's evaluation processes, the Center for Teaching feels that Partners should not from the same department.
- The data gathered by the Observer and the conclusions reached by the Teacher belong to the Partners themselves and are not to be reported to the Co-Directors of the Center for Teaching nor to Department Chairs, not to Deans.
What is the role of the Center for Teaching?
- The primary role of the Center for Teaching is facilitation. The Co-Directors of the Center expect to meet with the Partners in order to confirm that the two Partners have worked out a reasonable proposal for their program of peer observation and to discuss with the Partners some of the issues which are related to classroom observation.
- At the conclusion of the exchange, the Center for Teaching will receive a report that the Partners have completed their exchange and an evaluation of the peer observation process as the two Partners experienced it. The Center for Teaching will certify to the appropriate Dean the statement that the two Partners have completed the Sewanee Partners in Teaching program.
- While the peer observation program is actively happening, the partners will need to meet frequently for discussions related to the observations. To encourage such meetings, the Center for Teaching will give each participant a small stipend of $50 to pay for lunches or coffee sessions at Stirling's or whatever.