Colleague Observation Description

• You and the CETL Director determine which colleague you’d like to observe.
• You contact the colleague and ask to observe. (Depending on the circumstance, the CETL Director can also contact).
• The CETL Director contacts you and the faculty member with the observation form and directions.
• You answer the Observation Preparation questions below.
• You observe your colleague teaching at least two times, completing two separate teaching observation forms.
• You schedule a conversation with your colleague about what you observed in order to ask questions, discuss ideas about teaching, etc.   For example, you might ask your colleague why s/he teaches the way s/he does, how his/her teaching has changed over time, and/or what has been the best advice s/he has ever received about teaching, etc.
• You complete your reflection and return them to the CETL Director.
• You and the CETL Director will discuss the observation by e-mail or in person after you’ve completed the observations.

 Please create a document that includes answers to the preparation questions and your post-observation reflections.  Attach the document to your observation forms and return to the CETL, Mail Code 0460 or via e-mail.

Observation Preparation Questions: 

• If you chose the colleague you wanted to observe, why did you choose this colleague?
• What specific aspects of your colleague’s teaching are you interested in observing?

Post-Observation Questions:  

• Now that you have observed your colleague and had a discussion with him/her about your observations, please answer the following questions:
• What similarities and differences did you notice regarding your colleague’s teaching style and your own?
• What did you learn from observing your colleague teach?
• What did you learn from your conversation with your colleague about teaching?
• What are some ways that you might enhance or change your own teaching based on what you learned from your observations and conversation with your colleague?