Classroom Observations
All new faculty, full-time or adjunct, must have a classroom observation during their first semester of teaching. The purpose of this observation is to identify any areas in which the new instructor may need additional work or help. The classroom observation is considered part of the mentoring process and it should not be used as a form of evaluation. The procedures for the observation are detailed below and on the following pages. The relevant forms are given at the end of the section.
Procedures
As soon as they are hired, new faculty members should receive information from the Dept. Chair explaining the observation procedure, the criteria upon which their observation will be based, and a copy of the appropriate Observation Checklist. There are two checklists: one for lecture and one for lab. Additional information and forms are available at: http://www.austincc.edu/hr/eval/forms.php
The individuals doing the observation must be the Dept. Chair or faculty in the discipline designated by the Dept. Chair. The Teaching Observer should possess at least three years full-time and effective teaching experience at ACC. The observers should contact those being observed as early as possible in the semester to set up at least one observation time. Observation should occur no earlier than mid-semester.
Prior to the observation, the Teaching Observer should meet with the faculty member being observed. At this time, they should discuss the observation criteria and the nature of the course being evaluated.
The observation should be a minimum of 50 minutes, and should include both lecture and lab where appropriate.
The results of the observation should be shared with the faculty member being observed within 24 hours.
The completed Observation Checklist should be sent to the faculty member being observed and to his or her Dept. Chair. The faculty member being observed may submit to the Dept. Chair a written response to the content of the Observation Checklist.
If the faculty member being observed has any questions or concerns about the observation comments, he or she should set up an appointment with the Teaching Observer and the Dept. Chair to discuss the results.