Brock University faculty, sessional instructors and teaching assistants are invited to participate in Teaching Squares.
Teaching Squares are designed to enhance teaching and learning practices and build community connections through peer observations, self-reflection, and group discussion.
Teaching Squares Objectives
By the end of the teaching squares experience the instructor will:
- observe, analyse, reflect on, and gain new insights into teaching and learning
- increase their understanding and appreciation of the work of colleagues
- reflect on observations of peers in the classroom setting
- gather ideas for developing their teaching and learning philosophy
- formulate a plan for trying out new approaches in their own teaching
- gain an understanding and appreciation for the work and pedagogical skills of their colleagues
What is a Teaching Square?
- A flexible, interdisciplinary, peer-observation process (participant both observes and is observed) facilitated by a member of the Educational Development team at CPI
- Four instructors volunteer to observe each other’s teaching
- Observations focus on the instructor’s positive features in the instructional environment
- Teaching squares are a unique and unconventional peer-observation teaching development program – they do not feature peer reviews or evaluation
- Participants focus on reflecting on their own teaching practice: what they learn about their own teaching by observing others
- Post-square debriefing facilitates a self-directed process that can include a reflective practice
For more information contact: eddev@brocku.ca