Reflecting on Your Teaching at U of T
“One of the hardest lessons to learn as a teacher is that the sincerity of your actions has little or no correlation with students’ perceptions of your effectiveness.” (Stephen D. Brookfield, 2017)
Welcome to Reflecting on Your Teaching at U of T. Whether you’re new to teaching or looking to deepen your practice, this resource provides approaches to support your growth as an educator. Explore strategies for individual reflection, connect with colleagues, and learn about CTSI services designed to guide and enhance your teaching.
Reflecting on Your Practice
For instructors who want to explore and enhance their teaching independently
Reflecting with Colleagues
For instructors who want to engage in reciprocal learning through peer dialogue and observation
Reflecting with CTSI Support
For instructors who want personalized guidance and tailored feedback from CTSI
Why Reflect?
Reflection deepens your impact as an educator. It can help you:
- Recognize effective strategies
- Make changes based on student feedback and outcomes
- Gain new insights through peer feedback and dialogue
- Navigate challenges with curiosity
- Align your teaching with your values and goals
When to Reflect?
Reflection is most powerful when it becomes a habit, and it can happen at every stage of teaching.
- Before a Course: Set goals, anticipate needs, plan for inclusion
- Mid-Course: Gather feedback, adjust activities, reflect in journals
- End of Term: Review evaluations, analyze student work
- Post-Term: Update your dossier, connect with peers
Reflection in Practice Workshops
These workshops are designed to help instructors deepen their reflective practice, develop teaching statements, and apply structured reflection strategies. Upcoming workshops include:
Creating a Feedback Culture in your Teaching
October 30, 1–3 pm
Explores how to build a culture of feedback in your teaching—one that supports student growth and provides meaningful insight into your own practice.
Reflective Educator as Leader
December 9, 1–3 pm
Explore how reflective practice shapes instructional decisions and leadership in teaching. Identify key moments in your teaching, reflect with peers, and consider strategies that make leadership more visible.
Drafting Your Statement of Teaching Philosophy
February 19, 1–3 pm
Learn strategies for writing or refining your Statement of Teaching Philosophy. Use guided prompts to connect teaching values to practices and impact, and begin drafting or revising your STP.
Preparing the Teaching Dossier
April 6, 1–3 pm
Get an overview of dossier components and strategies for creating an evidence-informed teaching dossier. Reflect on what to include, how to organize materials, and how to align with divisional expectations.