eaching consultations at the IRC have a single aim: to improve the
consultee's teaching skills. Consultations allow you to work with a
pedagogic expert, identifying your strengths as a teacher as well as areas
that may need improvement and methods of bringing about that improvement.
Teaching consultations can take on any of a number of forms depending on what the consultee is interested in discussing. A consultation can be as simple as discussing what is going on in the classroom with the TAC over beer (Jeff likes that). For a slightly more involved consultation, you may want to invite Jeff to visit one of your sections. This would allow the TAC to observe both you and the students, with attention given to group dynamics. Afterwards, the you and TAC can discuss what is working, what may not be working as hoped and some ideas for improvement.
A more complete picture can be generated with a video and/ or midterm evaluation. These consultations may take more time, but they are very densely packed with information and suggestions. For these consultations, an IRC employee will come to your classroom on a scheduled date, and ask your students to fill out an approximately fifteen minute long evaluation. He or she will then videotape your class for the remainder of the class period.
The evaluation and videotape then serve as the raw material for your actual consultation. You’ll meet with a TAC and together review your evaluation results and videotape. Consultations are never punitive: we’re as interested in what’s going right in a classroom as what’s going wrong. Consultations are also highly individualized: we don’t have a template for consultation so that we can address individual TA’s needs more effectively. Consultations generally last an hour and half.
After the consultation, you'll receive a copy of your students' Scantron and written evaluations. If you'd like a copy of your tape (highly recommended for your own review and for inclusion in a teaching portfolio), you'll need to bring a blank videotape with you so that we can copy the tape for you.
All consultations are strictly confidential. No one -- your fellow
teachers, your course director, your chair, or your dean -- will know that
you've had a consultation unless you tell them. The discussion is
meant solely to enrich the teaching and learning experience for you and
your students.