Teaching Consultations and Observations

Classroom observations are a common component of teaching consultations. It provides educators with targeted, collaborative, evidence-based, and student-centered feedback to support teaching improvement and student success. Allow 2-3 weeks to complete the observation protocol, which include:

• a pre-observation to set goals (~30-minute meeting),
• a classroom observation (50- or 80-minute observation, based on course length), including student feedback
• a verbal debrief and a written report of post-observation findings, including evidence-based teaching recommendations (~60-minute meeting)

Note: Educators may request a consultation without a class observation.

Request a teaching observation or a consultation.

Gather student feedback early and throughout the life of the course. Early student feedback allows educators to assess student learning and make manageable changes to the course. Give Engaged Teaching team 10 minutes of a class session to collect early anonymous student feedback. Request a consultation for student feedback. Learn how educators can conduct and respond to student feedback.

Writing consultations give educators strategies to effectively integrate writing pedagogy into the course. Consultation topics can include:

• Constructing writing assignments that promote deep and meaningful learning
• Developing writing practices that effectively respond to student writing
• Working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) student writers to equitably design assignments, provide feedback, and improve grading practices
• Promoting student voices in writing assignments and to make visible diverse student perspectives
• Designing writing rubrics that effectively grade and assess student writing

Request a writing consultation.

Departments or small groups of educators who have teaching questions or a topic they would like to explore together, can request a group consultation. For more information or to schedule, please email engagedteaching@ucsd.edu

We support educators who apply for the Course Development and Instructional Improvement Program facilitated by the Dean of Undergraduate Education. Engaged Teaching Hub can offer guidance on pedagogy that supports students’ learning : describing student-centered learning outcomes that support the goals of the course, designing assessments aligned with student-centered learning outcomes, addressing equity in student learning, and refining and enhancing educators’ ideas in the CDIIP application. Engaged Teaching Hub offers the following timeline to help educators successfully submit CDIIP applications.

• Attend a webinar to learn about the application process of CDIIP , offered in Winter quarter
• Schedule a 45-60-minute consultation with Engaged Teaching Hub in Winter quarter, with a confirmed consultation at least 2 weeks before the application deadline
• If possible, share a draft of CDIIP proposal to help Engaged Teaching team review in advance of the consultation
• Educators may benefit from meeting with several hubs  and other campus partners to address the full scope of the CDIIP application (i.e., digital and assessment support ). Facilitation of these connections can be made by Teaching + Learning Commons.
• We continue to support educators  until the CDIIP report is due  the following year (e.g., Course Design Series; consulting on course (re)design; collecting student feedback and identifying assessment instruments; conducting classroom observations)

Schedule a consultation by emailing engagedteaching@ucsd.edu

Note: We will try our best to consult with educators whose request is submitted within 2 weeks of application. Otherwise, written feedback on the proposal will  be provided.