Classrooms observations provide Faculty with feedback regarding their teaching and are intended to help Faculty identify their strengths, areas for improvement, development opportunities and sources of support. These observations count toward the annual assessment of teaching. The following Instructional Faculty shall be required to participate in classroom observations a) newly appointed Faculty b) Faculty on probation; and c) Faculty who have not achieved two consecutive semesters of satisfactory classroom observations.
Classroom observation teams shall arrange at least two (2) classroom observations (one announced and one unannounced) for two (2) consecutive semesters. Prior to the announced classroom visit, observation teams should meet with the Faculty Member to discuss the goals and objectives of the lesson to be observed, the preparation for teaching and the teaching strategies to be used. After the classroom visit, the observation team shall meet with the Faculty Member to discuss the observation, review the effectiveness of teaching materials and methods, identify strengths and challenges, discuss areas for improvement, strategies and sources of support and complete the appropriate Classroom Observation Form.
In those instances where, after two (2) consecutive semesters, classroom observations are rated as satisfactory or above, Faculty shall no longer be required to participate in the observation process unless they have been rated unsatisfactory in the teaching category on the Annual Faculty Evaluation Report. In those instances where, after two (2) consecutive semesters, classroom observations are rated as unsatisfactory, Faculty shall be required to meet with the Chair, and members of the observation team to discuss areas for improvement, strategies, sources of support and a plan of action for improvement.