Section 2

Confidential Consultation about Teaching: Information

Since 1990 Teaching Resource Center staff members have consulted with teaching assistants from across the University about their teaching, knowing that self-reflection coupled with objective feedback enhances the overall teaching/learning endeavor. The TRC offers a variety of confidential consultations about teaching. A few of these are listed below.

Three main types of consultations are available to you, a Teaching Analysis Poll (TAP), an in-class observation, and an analysis of a videotaped class:

• Individual Consultation: TRC consultants are happy to help you think through ways to improve your students' learning. Conversations might center around aspects such as course design, student evaluations, discussion-leading, lecturing, etc.
• In-class Observation: Utilizing a variety of observation techniques, TRC consultants can tailor an in-class observation so that instructors get specific and meaningful feedback about one or more aspects of their teaching.
• Teaching Analysis Poll (TAP): To discover students' mid-semester reactions to a class, a trained TRC staff member can poll your students about their perceptions of the course.
• Videotape Analysis: Upon request, trained TRC staff members observe or videotape a class and consult confidentially with an instructor about what works well and what could be improved in the classroom.

Note: For more information on the different consultation types, click here.

Once you have decided on the consultation type, schedule it online. A TRC staff member will contact you to discuss the details of the consultation option you choose and to set up a meeting time. During the consultation, you are in the driver’s seat; the TRC staff member plays the role of an objective observer and a resource for information about effective teaching paradigms.

Note: All of the TRC’s services, including consultations are voluntary and strictly confidential. The number of consultations we conduct is limited and filled on a first-come first-served basis. TAPs are only conducted between the fourth and ninth weeks of the semester.