This Week for Faculty: ⚡ Reflect, refine, recharge your teaching practice!
Reflect on and refine your teaching practice!
February is a great time to reflect on one’s teaching practice! Pause and think about what is working, what adjustments might be needed to support student learning, and re-energize for the months ahead. Seeking feedback from students, TAs, colleagues, and the CTL can provide multiple sources of information to inspire small changes to teaching between now and the end of the semester.
Collect feedback from students
The CTL recommends gathering student feedback at various points within the semester to better gauge the student learning experience in your course and identify ways to enhance it. The CTL’s Early and Mid-Semester Student Feedback resource outlines two approaches for collecting feedback from your students: 1) the start-stop-continue method (more information below), and 2) a question bank for gathering feedback from students. The CTL is available to consult with you as you design your feedback survey, interpret the data, and address the results with your students.
The start-stop-continue feedback survey approach gives students a voice in their learning process as it invites them to reflect on their learning experiences and share actionable feedback with their instructor.
The method asks students what you can Start, Stop, and Continue doing based on what is and is not supporting their learning:
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What can we start doing in this class that would help you learn?
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Is there anything we should stop doing that isn’t helping you learn? If so, please explain.
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What should we continue doing that is helping you learn?
Watch the video and reach out to CTLfaculty@columbia.edu with questions and for assistance as you implement this strategy in your course.
Engage in reciprocal peer observation!
Gain fresh insights into your teaching by observing and being observed by colleagues in a supporting teaching community. This semester, invite a colleague to your classroom and visit a peer’s classroom! Reciprocal peer observation allows instructors to discover new strategies to enhance student engagement and learning, reflect on instructional practices, and refine their approach based on the constructive feedback received. Prior to visiting each other’s classes, discuss goals, desired feedback, and plan for a reflective discussion following the observation.
The CTL can assist faculty interested in engaging in reciprocal peer observation. Pairs or groups of faculty can reach out to CTLfaculty@columbia.edu to schedule a consultation.
Request a CTL teaching observation
Request a Teaching Observation! Gain perspective, validate your strengths, and identify areas of your teaching that you would like to work on. The CTL will observe your class and meet with you to share feedback. Our consultants can help you think through your course goals, reflect on your teaching practices that support your students’ learning, and plan manageable next steps to meet your teaching objectives through the end of the semester.
To arrange for a teaching observation, please submit the online request form at least two weeks prior to the date when you would like to be observed.
Requests for observations are accepted through March 7.
Upcoming workshops
Navigating HOT Moments in the Classroom
February 27, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Related resources: Navigating Heated, Offensive, and Tense (HOT) Moments in the Classroom
The Columbia Class of 2035: Will We Need to Reinvent Higher Education?
March 4, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Faculty Room in Low Memorial Library.
This workshop is part of the Columbia AI Summit on March 4, 2025.
Exploring AI in Teaching and Learning: AI and Writing
March 5, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Related resource: Learning Through Writing in the Age of AI
The CTL is here to help!
Connect via Zoom or over the phone
Join us for office hours via Zoom (or phone) Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm to have your teaching with instructional technology questions answered.
Schedule a consultation
Schedule an in-person or virtual consultation to discuss any teaching and learning need by emailing ctlfaculty@columbia.edu or email the CTL Learning Designer assigned to your school or department.