Classroom Support Conversations

In a Classroom Support Conversation, a colleague from the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning will join your class -whether it is a lecture, discussion, lab, studio, recitation, a video of your instruction, or on-line.  A support conversation provides formative feedback from an outside perspective on the aspects of your teaching that interest you most.  You can request a support conversation at any time during the semester.  While you may use the feedback you receive to document that you have been working to improve your teaching, we do not conduct summative assessments or support conversations for faculty who are undergoing the process of reappointment, or tenure/promotion review.

A support conversation provides feedback from an outside perspective on the aspects of your teaching that interest you most.  You will be provided objective data regarding your teaching techniques and how best to support your students.

The Steps in this Process

Request a Classroom Support Conversation by completing registration at least two weeks in advance. In this registration form, we will ask for details about the class that you would like us to observe including the date, time, type of class, and your goals for the Classroom Support Conversation.

Request a Classroom Support Conversation here

Meet with a CETL colleague to discuss your class context, your reasons for the support conversation, and your goals for feedback.

 

A CETL colleague observes your class.

We will not disturb your class, we simply act like another student in your class, take notes, and save these notes after we observe your class.

 

After we observe your class you will meet with the same CETL colleague that observed your class and discuss your perceptions and receive feedback.

We also will provide a letter from the CETL acknowledging your participation in a teaching support conversation but no documentation of teaching or letters of support for tenure/promotion documents.

  • Conversations are voluntary and confidential.  
  • Designed to provide formative feedback for teaching improvement.  
  • We do not provide documentation of teaching or letters of support for Tenure/Promotion documents.

Common Questions: