Individual Consultation, Classroom Observation, and Videotaping

Please note that both consultations and classroom observations are completely confidential, and must be arranged by the individual faculty member.

Consultations

Individual consultations can involve any aspect of teaching. Any topic of concern or interest to you as a faculty member is fair game, and if our office is not the most pertinent source, we will put you in contact with the appropriate people on campus.

Sampling of topics that are raised during consultations:

• examining trends in a particular set of evaluations;
• organizing lectures more clearly;
• redesigning a syllabus;
• determining when a syllabus is too crammed;
• engaging students in a particular topic;
• developing better exams;
• overcoming “stage fright” in a lecture course;
• dealing with a particular difficult student or situation;
• finding ways to refresh your teaching;
• discovering new approaches to a topic.

Many faculty simply find it more comfortable to talk about teaching issues with someone who is not only outside of their department, but also has a wide perspective on teaching. 

Our office also has online materials relating to many of these topics, in the “Teaching Materials” and “Publications” sections.

Often, as a follow-up to a consultation, we will suggest a classroom observation.

Classroom Observation

If you have not been observed (and/or videotaped) in your classroom, we strongly suggest that you take advantage of this service.  And even if you have been videotaped in the past, you may want to see again how you look to your class.

Generally you will meet first with a faculty development specialist to discuss your class and your concerns, if any. The specialist will then observe you in action in your class, and meet with you to discuss the impressions, and provide you with an informal written report. In general, the specialist will observe all aspects of your class, or you can discuss focusing on one single area. The Classroom Observation Checklist highlights some of the kinds of things someone observing your class might look for.

Sampling of reasons faculty ask for a class to be observed:

• it’s the first time a faculty member has taught the particular course;
• the faculty member just wants a "check-up";
• students don’t seem engaged in the material;
• the faculty member is uncomfortable in front of the classroom;
• students have criticized board work or powerpoint presentations.

As with individual consultations, this is not meant to be an exhaustive list.

Videotaping

Our office can arrange for your class of any size to be videotaped.  You may wish simply to have the class taped and then review the tape yourself. 

However, we strongly suggest that you pair the videotaping with classroom observation and individual consultation. After the videotaping, you and a faculty development specialist (who has, ideally, been in the class on the day of the taping) will review the tape together. Some faculty find it helpful to go through this process several times, in order to focus on making changes in particular aspects of their teaching. For helpful pointers on the process of videotaping, read Watching Yourself on Videotape in Tools for Teaching. For more thoughts, see Tomorrow’s Professor msg re video.

To arrange for any of these services, contact Steve Tollefson, 642-0875.