Collaborative Reflection on teaching protocol

To support staff through the collaborative reflection on  teaching process a set of guidelines or a protocol has been developed. The protocol includes information on the steps in the process and supporting documentation to guide reflection and discussion.
The VU protocol includes the following stages:

• Self reflection
• Pre teaching observation and discussion
• Reciprocal observation and review of teaching
• Feedback discussion

The VU protocol has been designed to assist staff to reflect on their teaching through focusing on student learning and on the VU Teacher Capabilities.  It uses an open ended approach to encourage this, rather than a tick box, skills based list of teaching strategies. The protocol also uses the VU Guidelines on Learning that inform Teaching, as a tool for focussing on how we can improve teaching  through greater understanding of what makes learning effective.

The Collaborative reflection on teaching protocol is available as a word document and as a pdf.

• VU Collaborative Reflection on Teaching Protocol  - word document
• VU Collaborative Reflection on Teaching Protocol - pdf

Collaborative Reflection on Teaching protocol – a brief summary

This information can also be downloaded in a print friendly version here.

The Collaborative reflection on teaching protocol is in four sections

Section A        The pre-observation self reflection and discussion (Steps 1 & 2)

Section B        Observation of each other's teaching (Step 3)

Section C        Post Observation: Reflection and Discussion (Step 4)

Section D        Implementation of Changes in Teaching Practice (Step 5)

I believe that the idea of focussing feedback through the questions presented in the protocol is an important part of the process. It is important that the person receiving feedback from their peer is able to specify the parameters of the observation. Feedback should be targeted and not open slather. Targeted focus can be achieved through following the protocol.

Peer review pilot project participant August 2007