8 Shared Benefits of Peer Observations of Teaching

Peer observations of teaching can offer a rich and rewarding experience, both for the instructor being observed and for the peer conducing the observation (Torres, et al., 2017; O’Keefe, et al., 2021).

By inviting colleagues to observe and provide feedback, instructors and observers can gain fresh perspectives on teaching methodologies, instructional techniques, and classroom dynamics (Hendry, et al., 2014). A collaborative approach to teaching observations can encourage peers to share teaching experiences while reflecting on various pedagogical methods in relation to student learning (Engin, 2016; Bell & Thomson, 2018; O’Keeffe, et al., 2021).

At the same time, peer observations of teaching can also offer an enriching opportunity for colleagues to strengthen their professional skills in listening, observing, providing meaningful feedback, and sharing dialogue about different and diverse teaching practices (Bell & Cooper, 2013; Warren, 2022).

Finally, by engaging in teaching observations, instructors and observers can contribute to a scholarly culture that utilizes peer review in teaching and learning in ways that are similar to standards applied in the context of academic research and scholarship (Chism 2007; Gosling, 2014; Engin, 2016).