Contents
Purpose of the scheme
This institutional scheme is a developmental process that intends to help academics to identify areas of strength and weakness in their practice with the ultimate goal to enhance the student’s learning experience at the university.
Please note that the process differs for staff teaching on Apprenticeship Programmes (scroll down to find out more).
The observation process
The process for observees
You will need to be observed at least once every two years. The current observation period is 2023-2025. At the start of each academic year, you will be assigned an observer from your school, and the Centre for Enhancement in Learning and Teaching (CELT) will provide Teaching Observation training sessions for each academic School/College.
Teaching observations are carried out face-to-face. If a staff member teaches on apprenticeships, (s)he must be observed in an apprenticeship session (see process below).
- Identify a teaching session for your observation, and arrange a mutually convenient time with your observer for the observation (your observer should stay for 1 hour). Give your observer access to your Blackboard module as they will be asked to review the materials accompanying your taught session.
- Produce a plan for your session and share this with your observer.
- Arrange a short pre-observation meeting with your observer to discuss your teaching plan an any developmental areas you would like them to pay special attention to.
- Arrange a post-observation meeting with your observer. During this meeting, you will discuss both your taught session and the accompanying online learning materials on Blackboard.
- Complete the online Impact and evaluation form which gives us information on how useful the process was.
The completion of this form is mandatory.
For some further guidance on how to make the most of the observation scheme, please refer to the Key considerations when planning your observed teaching session document (.docx, 22kb).
The process for observers
- Read the session plan prior to conducting the observation and meet with the observee for a pre-observation meeting. During this meeting you should discuss the session plan and check if your observee has any specific areas for development they would like you to pay special attention to. You should also fill in the “Pre-observation (INTENT) section of the Teaching Observation Form, and save the form for later completion (see instructions in online form).
- Attend the teaching session on time. Try to be in the classroom at least 5 minutes in advance.
- During the observation (or immediately thereafter), fill in the “During the observation (IMPLEMENTATION)” section of the Teaching Observation Form. You may find it useful to bring a laptop along to the session and fill in the form as you observe. If you so so, please make sure you save the form for later (as in step 1)
- You should observe an hour of practice but if you have not completed your observation, you may stay longer.
- Review the learning materials on Blackboard that accompany the taught session, and fill in the “Blackboard Module Resources” section of the Teaching Observation Form.
- Meet with the observee for a post-observation meeting as soon as possible after the observation. During this meeting, you should discuss your observations as well as your review of the online learning materials on Blackboard, and address and complete the “De-briefing/Feedback on observation meeting” section of the Teaching Observation Form.
Important information
You can save the forms (click finish later) to finish them at a time it is more convenient to you. Saving the forms will generate a link that will be emailed to you. Please keep this link in a safe place that you can remember. If you lose this link, you will lose the information you filled in as we are unable to retrieve incomplete forms.
After you have submitted the form, make sure you download the document as a .pdf (by following the on-screen instructions), and to share the document with the observee.
Observation process for staff teaching on apprenticeships
Key differences to the peer observation of teaching practice scheme:
- The observation needs to be conducted by a manger (rather than a peer).
- Staff teaching on apprenticeships need to be observed annually (rather than once every two years).
- Staff teaching on apprenticeships need to be observed in an apprenticeship class.
If you have any questions about the observation of teaching process, please contact celt@uwl.ac.uk
