51ĀŅĀ×

Peer teaching observations provide instructors with constructive, meaningful and actionable feedback to continually improve their instructional practices and skills to maximize student learning and impact.ā€‹ The fundamental purpose of the Peer Teaching Observation Program (PTOP) is to improve student outcomes by promoting competency-based approaches to teaching excellence.ā€‹

PTOP Overview

The Peer Teaching Observation Program (PTOP) has been developed by faculty for faculty based on the eight criteria for Teaching Excellence approved by Faculty Senate in December 2022. PTOP faculty fellows offer the following points of emphasis to provide guidance in how to think about and frame.

PTOP is designed for anyone teaching at the 51ĀŅĀ× in any contracted capacity. "Peerā€ means instructors/faculty observing instructors/faculty.

PTOP is not intended to be evaluative. Rather,  through PTOP, a culture of peers observing peers and learning from one another is encouraged. 

PTOP can be cross disciplinary. Cross disciplinary teaching observations may result in a fresh look at oneā€™s own discipline area and pedagogical strategies. They also may help to alleviate assumptions or biases that sometimes arise when faculty observe colleagues in their area. 

PTOP is a multistep process that involves pre-observation work, the teaching observation itself and a post-observation conversation.

PTOP includes rubrics. Each of the eight criteria for teaching excellence has a detailed rubric that describes performance levels spanning ā€œNeeds Addressedā€ to ā€œExemplary.ā€

PTOP is an evolving process. Those implementing the process are encouraged to share feedback with CTLA.

PTOP Benefits

• Improves clarity and transparencyā€‹
• Helps shift the institution toward a culture of continuous improvementā€‹
• Allows instructors to better identify their strengths and weaknessesā€‹
• Focuses feedback on competency building based on a rubric aligned to OHIOā€™s definition of teaching excellence

PTOP Process

Elements of the PTOP Process include:

1. Pre-Observation Meetingā€”should be held 1-5 days before the class observation
2. The Observation Using Full Scriptingā€”to be completed by the observer and shared with the instructor along with the Post-Observation Form
3. Post-Observation Formā€”to be completed by the observer and sent with the full scripting; should be sent to the instructor within 12 days of the observation and at least 48 hours before the Post-Observation Meeting
4. Post-Observation Meetingā€”to take place within two weeks of the class observation

PTOP Designers

The team of faculty fellows designing the PTOP program during the 2023-24 academic year include:

• Dr. Linda Rice, Professor, College of Arts and Sciences 
• Dr. Mark Rowe, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Business
• Dr. Angela Hosek, Associate Professor, Scripps College of Communication
• Dr. Cheryl Geng, Associate Clinical Professor, College of Health Sciences and Professions
• Dr. Jenny Chabot, Professor, College of Health Sciences and Professions

PTOP Instructions, Forms and Rubric

Program Background and Overview

A of the PTOP development and a checklist of materials needed is available here.

Instructions and Forms

walks participants through the list of questions (aligned to the teaching excellence framework) to guide pre-observation discussions; an explanation of full-scripting, the observation and the post-observation process; and a post-observation form to assist in debriefing. 

Complete Model

The PTOP faculty fellows for peer observers to review. It includes notes from the pre-observation meeting, a full-scripting sample, a completed post-observation form and meeting notes, as well as a sample letter.

Rubrics

related to each of the teaching excellence criteria. They can be used to assist in providing feedback to the faculty being observed.

OSCQR Rubric

While the PTOP may be used to provide formative feedback on any course modality (in-person, hybrid or online), OHIO's Office of Instructional Design also provides online course review using the .

The rubric itself is open source and available for other institutions and individuals to use. The OID Instructional designers are certified OSCQR reviewers. As a result, OID is qualified to complete quality course reviews and collaborate with faculty on ways to improve the experience of their online courses.  

Early-term and midterm Feedback

Student feedback on instruction plays a significant role in development of teaching excellence, and CTLA highly recommends instructors request early-term feedback from students during weeks 3 to 5 of the semester.

A short survey comprising two Likert-scale questions about course organization and sense of belonging, as well as three open-ended questions about 1) aspects of the course and instruction that support learning; 2) how the course or instruction could be adjusted to better support learning; and 3) what students could do to better support their own learning, allows instructors to do the following:

• Identify changes that might improve student learning and satisfaction this semester
• Indicate to students the importance of their experience and their learning
• Ensure students feel their voices have been heard

CTLA has created a Qualtrics survey with recommended and optional questions for instructors to use. In addition, staff are available to review survey responses with faculty who would like to consider what, if any, changes might be made to courses or instruction.

Email CTLA if you would like a copy of the survey in Qualtrics or in print form.