Formal Peer Observations

For More Information About the UTA Policy About Promotion and Tenure and Peer Review

Policy AA-FPT-PO1 Promotion and Tenure

Policy AA-FPT-PO4 Faculty Peer Review of Teaching

Step-by-Step Process for Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review)

1. Faculty members needing a Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review), should to contact a certified peer observer or a faculty member who is of equal or higher rank than the faculty member being observed. If the faculty peer is eligible to be a peer observer and would like training on how a peer observer, the faculty member should submit the name of the faculty peer to peer.observation@uta.edu for training information. The faculty peer is not required to have training to be a peer observer, but it is strongly suggested. The faculty member should be aware of time commitments and availability of the peer observer/faculty peer and plan accordingly in scheduling the observation.
2. Once communication has been established, the faculty member and peer observer set up a time for the pre-observation meeting.  During the pre-observation meeting the faculty member and peer observer discuss teaching goals and learning objectives and the faculty member completes the Pre-Observation Meeting form (with a final signature from the peer observer). This meeting should take about 10-15 minutes. If a scheduled time for the Course Observation has not been set, use this time to schedule the Course Observation. The faculty member should provide a copy (digital or paper) of the Course Observation Form for the convenience of the peer observer.
3. The peer observer will observe the course during the scheduled time and the peer observer completes the Course Observation Form (with a final signature from the faculty member)
4. The peer observer and faculty member will set up a post-observation meeting (often within 72 hours after the course observation, however, it is recommended to have the post-observation meeting immediately following the course observation). During the post-observation meeting, the faculty member and peer observer reflect upon the observed course session and the faculty member completes the Post-Observation Meeting form (with a final signature from the peer observer). This meeting should take about 15-30 minutes.
5. After the post-observation meeting, the faculty member completes the Reporting Form (with final signature from the peer observer). The Report form is required for all tenure and promotion dossiers and is evidence that a Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review) was conducted.
6. The peer observer gives all the completed documents (Pre-Observation Meeting, Course Observation Form, Post-Observation Meeting, and Reporting form) to the faculty member for their personal records.

FORMS:

List of Qualified Peer Observers

Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review): Pre-Observation Meeting (PDF Fillable)

Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review): Pre-Observation Meeting (Word document)

Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review): On-Campus Course Observation (PDF Fillable)

Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review): On-Campus Course Observation (Word document)

Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review): Online Course Observation (PDF Fillable)

Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review): Online Course Observation (Word document)

Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review): Post-Observation Meeting (PDF Fillable)

Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review): Post-Observation Meeting (Word document)

Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review): Reporting Form (PDF Fillable) REQUIRED for tenure and promotion dossier

Formal Peer Observation (Peer Review): Reporting Form (Word document) REQUIRED for tenure and promotion dossier

Peer Observer Training: Contact - peer.observation@uta.edu

HINT: Download the form onto your device then either print out paper versions and complete with a pen OR utilize the 'save as' feature by retitling the document with the faculty member name in order to keep the fillable items on the document.