In-Class Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a faculty developer visiting my class?
The purpose of the visit is to provide teaching feedback to help facilitate your growth as a professional art and design educator. The visit is for developmental, not evaluative purposes. If you would like to receive feedback on a particular aspect of your teaching, please indicate that on your questionnaire.

When will a faculty developer visit my class?
We try to visit all new faculty early during their first semester at the AAU. Other instructors are visited on an “as needed” or “as requested” basis.

Do I have to prepare a special lesson?
No. You do not need to do anything differently than you normally would do. Typical classroom learning environments include lectures, demonstrations and critiquing sessions.  [not student presentations or workshop time]

Do I need to introduce the faculty developer to the class?
Students are naturally curious when a new person visits the classroom. Because of this, it may be a good idea to let the faculty developer introduce him or herself, although it isn’t required. Check in with the faculty developer if you are uncertain about what to say. The faculty developer will not be a participant in the lesson, and will try to be as inconspicuous as possible.

What happens after the visit?
You and the faculty developer will schedule a one-hour teaching consultation to take place within a week after the initial visit. This is your opportunity to share what you thought was successful about your teaching during that particular class session. You can also ask questions about areas you feel are not as strong. The faculty developer will provide detailed feedback about the lesson, including specific actions you can take to grow as a professional art and design educator.

Adapted, in part, from "Coaching for Instructional Effectiveness" City University, Bellevue, Washington, 2003.