Curious about how you can improve your own teaching practice? Teaching Squares is an excellent activity you can undertake to enhance your teaching skills. It uses self-reflection based on peer-observation, and requires very little of your time – only about 7 or 8 hours over a whole term.
Curious? Call the LTC or email us to find out more about what it is about. No commitment required!
Email develop@bcit.ca or call Michele Bridge at 604-431-7004.
How a teaching square works…
A Teaching Square is a group of four instructors who come together to:
- engage in reciprocal classroom visits
- share teaching materials and ideas
- reflect on classroom observations as it may apply to their own teaching
- share reflections with colleagues and describe them in a way that is general, personal and positive
This group of 4 visit each others’ classroom over a short period of time, such as within a term. At the end, the group share what they learned by observing each others’ classes and reflect on how their observations may inform their own teaching practice. The focus is on reflection of one’s own instructional practices; it’s not meant to be used for peer-evaluation or feedback.
A teaching square is initiated by instructors themselves. An IDC in the Learning and Teaching Centre can support you through engagement in a Teaching Square by providing resources, but the IDC will not participate in the Teaching Square itself as this is mean to be a peer instructor-based activity.
It’s ideal if you can find a group of colleagues who would like to participate in your Teaching Square with you. If you cannot find 4 participants, feel free to reach out to the LTC to see if we can facilitate finding a group, or to consider how the process could be adapted for a smaller group.
What a teaching square is…
Teaching Squares are peer-based and reciprocal classroom observations undertaken by instructional colleagues – either in the same or a different department. Through observation, each participant is able to reflect on their own teaching and consider applying ideas to their own classroom, or adapting their own teaching practice.
The Teaching Squares initiative is designed to improve teaching and build community through a structured, non-threatening process of classroom observation and shared reflection. Teaching Squares capture the best aspects of peer consultation—observation, discussion and reflection—while eliminating the elements of judgement and evaluation.
What a teaching square is not…
Teaching Squares are NOT associated with the FSA’s Performance Development System or any BCGEU evaluation process. And, it is NOT an opportunity to give feedback on another instructor’s performance. Participation in a Teaching Square is not required, and engagement is initiated by instructors themselves.