Teaching Observation
Teaching observations provide formative feedback on in-person or synchronous online teaching. The service is collegial, supportive, and designed to encourage reflection and strengthen your teaching practice.
Observations are not scheduled during the first or last class, tests or exams, or sessions led by guest lecturers. CTSI aims to schedule the observation based on your availability, subject to staff capacity. This service is not used for formal evaluation, including tenure, promotion, continuing status reviews, or hiring.
The teaching observation service is available to appointed faculty members and sessional Instructors in CUPE 3902 Unit 3. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in CUPE 3902 Units 1 and 5 are encouraged to explore the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program. If you are unsure of your employment classification, please check with your hiring department before submitting a request.
CTSI’s teaching observation service is available for courses on the St. George campus only. For support at UTM or UTSC, please contact your local teaching centre:
How the Process Works
A teaching observation typically unfolds over three stages:
- Pre-Observation Meeting (25 minutes): Instructor and observer meet to discuss teaching context and goals, and determine whether an observation is the best fit.
- Observation (60 minutes): A CTSI Educational Developer observes your class (in-person or synchronous online).
- Post-Observation Meeting (50 minutes): Instructor and observer discuss observations and explore strategies aligned with teaching goals.
Note: For feedback on asynchronous materials or Quercus sites, please refer to our Quercus Course Review service.
Request a Teaching Observation
Please complete the form below to request a teaching observation. We ask that instructors submit only one request per academic year.