Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Faculty Mentoring for Teaching

P2P is open to all instructors teaching a U of T course during Winter 2023. This includes faculty with continuing appointments, contract instructors (e.g., CLTAs), and sessional instructors.

Note: Graduate student Course Instructors should visit the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program (TATP) for alternative professional development opportunities.

P2P will launch in-person on November 3, 2023, and end in May 2024. Here are the dates for the mandatory CTSI-facilitated sessions:

November 3, 2023, 10am –1pm (Launch in-person)
January 25, 2024, 12:00pm-2:00 pm*
March 19, 2024, 12:00pm – 2:00pm*
May 3, 2024, 1:00pm – 3:00 pm (In-person)

*Workshop modalities will be discussed at the Program Launch session

• to work with a peer in a supportive and collegial partnership to enhance one’s teaching going forward.
• to increase reflection on one’s teaching and gain a better understanding of students’ learning needs
• to build leadership capacity and mentoring opportunities for instructors at U of T whereby methods and approaches that support effective teaching can be shared
• to provide a structured framework for ongoing improvement of a [course] and learning practice with input, assistance, and guidance from CTSI and cohort peers (adapted from PATS Guide, 2011: 2)
• to improve the quality of a course and student learning experiences within that course through a focus on quality teaching and through analysis of student course feedback.

• P2P draws on U of T- specific findings from the CTSI Report and employs a dyadic peer assisted teaching partnership model, combined with a network model; to further clarify, the model CTSI uses does not necessarily pair junior/less experienced instructors with senior/experienced instructors – both partners in the mentoring relationship are expected to have meaningful teaching experience in order to be able to contribute equitably to the mentoring partnership
• the co-mentoring approach allows for both instructors to participate in peer observation of teaching, review course feedback (e.g., course evaluations/formative, mid-course feedback), and establish teaching-related goals
• during the program you will receive materials and resources to support your teaching and upon completion of the program CTSI will provide a letter of recognition for your participation.

• Over seven months, the P2P process provides the opportunity to engage in the following activities:
  • attend four CTSI-facilitated meetings/workshops, (pre, during, and post semester)
  • conduct a peer observation of teaching;
  • collect mid-course and formative feedback from students, and,
  • engage in regular conversations with your partner.
• Meet regularly with mentoring partner (Note: the average P2P meeting schedule is bi-weekly)

A maximum of 30 participants (15 pairs) to ensure all program sessions allow a space for reflection and opportunities to interact with other participants and CTSI facilitators.

Applicants will be carefully reviewed according to several criteria (including campus, class size, teaching position, years of teaching experience, stated teaching goals, discipline, etc.) that draws on application responses. Please note: every effort will be made to match all eligible applicants, but it may be that not all applicants will be able to be matched.