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Individual Teaching Consultations

The Individual Teaching Consultation provides an opportunity for faculty and graduate teaching assistants to review the learning experience of their undergraduate students in the classroom. Upon request, the Sheridan Center will provide two trained Teaching Consultants to observe, with optional videotape, a class or presentation and to provide feedback on their observations. The person requesting the consultation (observee) submits a written account of the pedagogical goals for the specific class to be observed and their relationship to the pedagogical goals for the course as a whole. The consultants evaluate how effectively the observee meets his or her stated goals. The consultants prepare an ITC Final Report on their observations that they discuss with the observee in a follow-up meeting. The ITC Report is completely confidential and drafted exclusively for the use of the observee. For details, see ITC procedure below.

The Teaching Consultants are selected from the Brown teaching community, both faculty and graduate students. All consultants have participated in a special Sheridan Center training session to learn about productive techniques for helping observees recognize and implement pedagogical innovations and improvements in their classrooms. The Teaching Consultants continue to meet throughout the year to discuss the program and to respond to observee suggestions. All consultants are selected from a pool of previous ITC observees or faculty with a demonstrated commitment to teaching and constructive pedagogical exchange.

ITC Procedures

  1. Contact the Sheridan Center to make an appointment two (2) weeks in advance so that we can arrange for consultants to visit your class. Please note that we cannot guarantee that your consultation request will be met unless you sign up at least two weeks prior to your requested consultation date. The optimal way to do this is via the ITC Sign-up form on this web site. Give yourself more time if you can't use the form, and need to contact the Center either by e-mail or telephone. PLEASE NOTE - You must register from an ON-CAMPUS computer (either Brown or RISD).
  2. The Observee Form: It is your responsibility to let the consultants know what you wish to accomplish in the session they are to observe. As the consultants are not experts in your specific field, you need to clearly explain how (pedagogy) you plan to teach, not what (content) you plan to teach. The consultants also need to know the context for this session, its relationship to the course as a whole. PLEASE fill in the form fully and if you have questions, please contact the Center ASAP.
  3. The Observation: Two consultants will observe and videotape the session. We recommend videotaping so that you can see what your students see. Please advise your students in advance that the class will be observed for your benefit, not for evaluating student performance in the class. Consultants will remain for one hour of any session. The consultants will leave the tape with you for your private viewing.
  4. Meeting: You and the consultants will arrange a meeting within two weeks of the session to discuss their observations and recommendations which will be included in the ITC Report.
  5. ITC Report: An official copy of the ITC Report will be sent to you by the Sheridan Center. This report is for your own records and your own use. It will not be sent to your department. We do not recommend that these be submitted to any form of University review board (such as TPA). A confidential copy will be kept on file at the Center.
  6. Follow-up Questionnaire: The Center will send you a feedback form via e-mail to help us assess your experience. Please return it to the Center as soon as possible.

N.B.

  1. Discipline-specific expertise: The consultants who visit your class have been chosen because they are not experts in your discipline. This will ensure that they focus primarily on your teaching rather than on your course content. If you wish to get suggestions from those who are knowledgeable in your discipline, the Center encourages you to contact members of your department for a separate session intra-department. Your departmental FTL or GSL may be able to help with this.

  2. The forms “Elements of an Effective Teaching Style,” and “Master Syllabus Form” are available via our website to help you anticipate what pedagogical (teaching) goals and objectives are, how the Sheridan Center consultants will provide you with feedback in the context of these goals, and how to view your videotape analytically and critically.

If you have any questions, please contact the Sheridan Center. We hope that you will find this a useful and constructive experience.