Class Visit | Faculty Review | Seneca Polytechnic

Overview

Class visits are opportunities for you to receive objective feedback on your teaching practices to identify your strengths and current areas for growth. Class visits complement student feedback by providing a different perspective on teaching effectiveness and consider aspects of course delivery that are not familiar to students, such as lesson planning and assessment design.

Class visits are conducted by your Chair once every three years for full-time faculty, or once a semester for probationary full-time faculty. There are three components to the class visit:

Preparing for Your Class Visit

• Work with your Chair to identify a suitable class for the visit. This should be a regular lesson day, and not an assessment day. The class may be in-person, online, or Flex as discussed with your Chair.
• Prepare a lesson plan. You may use a lesson planning template or a format of your choice. Include descriptions of:
  • learning objectives
  • assessment of objectives
  • inclusive learning activities
  • engagement strategies
• Reflect on what you would like to accomplish during the class visit. What are the goals for the lesson, for your students, and for yourself? What skills would you like to demonstrate? What feedback about your teaching would you like to receive?
• Send the goals of your lesson along with your lesson plan to your Chair at least one week before your scheduled visit. You may use Part A of the Class Visit template for Faculty or a different means of communicating this information.
  
  

During Your Class Visit

• Introduce the visitor to students. Explain that they will be attending today’s session as a guest.
• Share with the class visitor any handouts, links or other lesson resources provided to students.
• If you are using online breakout rooms, you may bring the visitor with you into any rooms that you join; however, avoid assigning the visitor to a room with students only.
• Facilitate the class as you normally would. Relax, and let your teaching magic shine!
  
  

After Your Class Visit

• Complete a Post-visit reflection soon after the class visit. Consider moments you are proud of, as well as opportunities for growth. You may use Part B of the Class Visit template for Faculty or a different means of recording this information. Share your reflection with your Chair, or save it for discussion at your annual conversation.
• Review the Post-visit feedback provided by your Chair. Keep track of any questions you may have about the feedback for further discussion during your annual Faculty-Chair conversation.
  
  

Quick Links

• Class Visit template for Faculty
• Class Visit template for Chair
  
  

Centre for Teaching and Learning. (n.d.). Teaching Observations. University of British Columbia

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