1. Peer Observation: Improvement of Teaching Effectiveness through Class Participation at a Polytechnic University
- Author
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Lowder, Loraine, Atiqulla, Mir, Colebeck, Donna, Das, Sandip, Karim, M. A., Khalid, Adeel, Singh, Rajnish, and Utschig, Tristan
- Abstract
An important purpose of peer observation is to provide formative feedback that will improve classroom teaching and learning. Peer observation in higher education has both quality and developmental objectives. Kennesaw State University, formerly Southern Polytechnic State University, offers a voluntary "Teaching Partners Program" open to any faculty member teaching at least one course during a semester. In this program, two faculty members, typically from different departments, are paired, observe each other's classes, and then provided feedback to each other on strengths and/or weakness that were noticed. This study identifies those faculty members that are most likely to participate in the peer observation program and analyzes their perceptions of the program. While the majority of those who participated in the program were assistant professors, motivated in part to participate by a desire to strengthen their tenure review packages, nearly all program participants said they would encourage other faculty members to participate in the program. Other institutions seeking to develop or improve their own peer observation programs for the sake of strengthening classroom teaching and learning may build upon the results from this study.
- Published
- 2017