Faculty development specialists at UConn’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) provide feedback to faculty members seeking advice and support for their teaching.
Who can request a consultation or observation? Consultation and observations are available to all UConn instructors and future instructors— including graduate students, post-docs, adjuncts, and fulltime faculty of all ranks. Although consultations and observations offer a great way to address teaching challenges, CETL’s services are not limited to problem resolution; in fact, some of UConn’s most successful teachers have been known to take advantage of consultation services to expand their repertoire and try new teaching techniques. To request a consultation or observation, simply send an email to cetl@uconn.edu or suzanne.lafleur@uconn.edu .
What does a typical consultation entail? Consultations may entail anything from a single meeting to a series of meetings spanning an entire semester, depending upon the needs and interests of the faculty member. Some of the topics and formats that can be addressed in consultations include the following:
- Classroom related issues or concerns
- Student evaluations
- Instructional methods: active learning techniques, flipped classrooms, group work, discussions, interactive lectures, etc.
- Instructional design of courses or redesign of existing courses
- Resources on specific teaching topics: teaching first year students, classroom management, civility, teaching large classes, midterm feedback on teaching, etc.
- Presentation skills
- Utilizing educational technologies to achieve learning and course objectives
- Teaching portfolios and documentation of teaching effectiveness
All services rendered in consultations and observations are confidential and shared only with the client. CETL does not provide direct evaluation for tenure, promotion, or hiring decisions; clients, however, may use consultation reports as they see fit, including as part of their portfolio.
For more information, contact: Suzanne LaFleur at suzanne.lafleur@uconn.edu