Peer Observation Program
Connect with TAs and LSAs outside your department to give, receive, interpret, and apply peer feedback to:
- Improve your teaching skills and confidence
- Enhance your course evaluations
- Focus on a specific issue you are facing right now in your classroom
- Observe new teaching methods and styles
- Build your teaching portfolio
- As you are going on the job market, help you prepare for your teaching demo
- Gain experience being observed in a peer environment
All L&S TAs and LSAs are eligible regardless of teaching experience. This means new and returning TAs and LSAs are all welcome to participate. New cohorts open at the beginning of every fall and spring semester.
Applications are open now for Spring 2025 (Jan. 31 to May 2). Please submit your application by Jan 27.
Apply for Spring 2025
"Getting feedback from someone not in your discipline not only confirms some of your expertise and skills, but it also acts as a way to encourage future growth in one's own teaching."
Languages TA
Learning Outcomes
- Identify your goals for observing teaching and being observed
- Choose your observation strategy from a list of standardized observation techniques (or create your own)
- Observe and provide feedback to other graduate student teachers
- Evaluate your experience to determine value-adds, limitations, and next steps for giving and receiving feedback
Registration Process
If you are a TA or LSA currently teaching in any school or department within L&S, you are eligible for this program.
The application form includes questions about your specific interest in the program and should only take you about 5 minutes to complete. After the first week of classes, you will be invited to the canvas course and matched with 1) an experienced observer from L&S; AND 2) a fellow applicant to the program who shares similar teaching experience and interests as you. The experienced observer will provide expert feedback and guide you through your journey teaching and observing during POP.
Please apply here: https://forms.gle/FifGgy7E2USVjFnc7 .
Program Content
You will complete a practice-focused Canvas course to refine your goals for peer observation. Then, you join a Peer Pod, work together to select observation times, and communicate goals. The Canvas course includes the following Modules:
- Module 1: Your Observation Goals
- Module 2: Peer Pod Observation
- Module 3: Critical Reflection
Your estimated time commitment is 5 hours including the asynchronous Canvas course and observing up to two peers.
"This is a good way for new teachers to get reassurance of how to be effective in the classroom: to learn strategies and get some ideas from a peer. Speaking for myself, my peer was very reassuring, very kind, and very helpful with feedback."
Education TA
Current Session
For Fall 2024, the program runs Sept. 4 to Dec. 6.
Applications are open now for Spring 2025 (Jan. 31 to May 2). Please submit your application by Jan 27.