Teaching Peer Consulting
What is Peer Consulting for Teaching?
The Peer Consulting for Teaching Program offers all tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty at SIUE the opportunity for collaborative exploration of their teaching.
The Peer Consulting for Teaching Program is:
- an equity-centered exploration of teaching done in a collaborative, collegial manner
- available to those faculty who would like to gather information from an independent, non-judgmental source about various aspects of their teaching
- a method for obtaining and using feedback in a positive, meaningful, and useful manner
- an opportunity to meet colleagues who, like you, would like to provide high quality teaching at SIUE
Are Peer Consulting for Teaching Services Confidential?
Yes, services offered by the Peer Consulting for Teaching Program are confidential. Peer Consultants do not share individual names or feedback. You will be provided with documentation that you can use as evidence that you received a consultation. You will also be provided with a written summary of feedback pertaining to your consultation. You can choose which form of documentation you share with others.
Faculty may choose to use a teaching peer consultation as part of meeting their department’s annual review, tenure, or promotion requirements. In such cases you may be required to submit the specific feedback from the consultation. We recommend that you check your department’s policies with regard to providing documentation of peer consultation of teaching.
What is a Peer Consultant?
Peer Consultants are passionate about teaching and fostering the teaching activities of their fellow SIUE colleagues. They also have special interest, training, and experience in the consultation process.
A Peer Consultant can act as:
- an information conduit for responses from your students,
- a sounding board for your concerns and ideas about any aspect of your teaching
- a source of feedback and suggestions for possible changes to your teaching
How Do I Request a Peer Consultation for Teaching?
A teaching consultation is driven by the needs and interests of the faculty member who requests the consultation. As such each consultation is tailored to meet the specific questions a faculty member would like to have addressed.
Faculty may request three feedback types from the Peer Consulting Program:
1. Class Observation
Observation of class session by a Peer Consultant provides a faculty member with valuable exchanges of ideas and approaches to a variety of teaching and learning situations using an equity-minded lens.
2. GIFT
A GIFT (Group Instructional Feedback Technique) is a feedback technique in which a Peer Consultant talks with students, in the absence of their instructor, to address specific questions that instructor has about a class (e.g., What can I do to co-create an inclusive classroom environment?, How is the pace of my lectures?, How helpful are the readings in understanding course material?). GIFT’s can be implemented during a time when a class typically meets.
3. Feedback on specific teaching materials
Faculty can request that Peer Consultant provide feedback on a variety of teaching materials including syllabi, assignments, and classroom activities. The feedback will be tailored to suit a faculty member's request whether that is to make an assignment more transparent, to better communicate classroom culture in a syllabus, or something else entirely. Faculty are in the driver's seat of these conversations!
4. Support in processing/responding to teaching evaluations
Teaching peer consultants can engage with faculty in critical reflection around student evaluations of teaching. This process can include identifying patterns and themes, contextualizing feedback, engaging in reflective discussions, and developing a responsive action plan. If you'd like to request any of these Peer Consulting for Teaching services, simply complete a Peer Consultation for Teaching Request Form.
5. Thought Partner
Faculty can request a peer consultnt to serve as a thought partner to collaborate or problem solve. A thought partner can serve as an ally in the teaching process and be particularly helpful in considering how to apply strategies learned in faculty development workshops, courses, and other events.
After your request has been received a Peer Consultant will contact you to discuss your request.
Disclaimer Notice
Information or services obtained through this consulting is provided by members of the university community who are volunteers, and are non-professional counselors. No statement made, opinions expressed, actions taken, advice given, or support provided necessarily represents the views, opinions, or policy of the university. Thus, the university, its affiliates, personnel as well as members of this consulting group are not liable for any errors stemming from services provided.
