Appendix G: Reflections on my Teaching Observation (Instructor)
Reflections Following the Teaching Observation
Following the teaching observation, consider setting aside 10-15 minutes to reflect on the lesson while it is still fresh in mind. This reflection may be helpful to return to when receiving and debriefing the feedback from your peer. In this reflection, you may wish to consider some, or all, of the following questions:
Strengths:
- What were the strengths and highlights of the lesson from my perspective, as the instructor? What went well and why?
- What aspects of the lesson were particularly effective for facilitating student learning and engagement?
- What stood out or surprised me during this lesson?
Areas for Enhancement:
- What didn’t go as well as I would have liked, and why? If I could teach this lesson again, what would I do differently, and why?
- What do I want to learn more about or continue to improve upon in my teaching following the lesson?
Reflections for Summative Evaluations
You may wish to offer your formative teaching observation as evidence of your development as an educator in a summative evaluation like an annual Record of Activities (RoA) for Career Progress and Merit (CPM) and/or a teaching portfolio. Be sure to consult with your department to review the inclusion of your teaching observation and confirm the observer’s permission before including your observation as an artefact in a formal evaluation or record.
If you choose to include your teaching observation in a summative evaluation, it is recommended that you include both the specific feedback you received and the changes you made in response to that feedback. Consider writing a reflection on how the experience influenced your teaching development using some of the following questions:
- What did I learn from engaging in this process? What surprised me or stood out?
- What were the key strengths highlighted in the feedback I received? How can I continue to leverage these strengths to enhance student learning?
- What specific areas for enhancement did my peer (and students, as applicable) suggest? What tangible steps can I take to make enhancements in those areas?
- How will I continue to assess my progress in implementing changes based on this feedback? How will I know if I have implemented these changes effectively?
- What do I plan to continue working on as a result of this observation and feedback, both in terms of short- and long-term goals?
- What resources or supports can I seek to further enhance my teaching practice and commit to continuous self-reflection and growth as an educator?