Through the promotion and tenure process at Vanguard, we have historically had chairs typically observe classes for summative reasons. However, we have had less of an emphasis on what is called formative evaluation – a way to receive feedback not tied to any formal evaluation of one’s work.

Improve Teaching Excellence Through Formative Feedback

This is an area we are working to improve at Vanguard. Through our faculty fellows program and other collaborators, our hope is that we can provide more opportunities for Vanguard resident and adjunct faculty to be coached on our teaching excellence through a confidential process.

Use Technology for Peer or Self Evaluation and Feedback

It is also possible to observe one’s own classes using technology. Faculty can receive training on and then check out a piece of equipment called a Swivl that will enable us to observe our own classes and see our teaching from an entirely different perspective than we normally are able to…

This video from Grand Valley State University shows the power of this kind of classroom observation, using Swivl: