Professional Development at SUNY Broome

Improving Teaching

Building Community

Spring 2020

The Philosophy: The cornerstone of Teaching Squares are the positive attitudes and behaviors that create a mutually supportive, energizing environment for sharing the joys and challenges of teaching. 

The Purpose: The Teaching Squares program is designed to improve teaching skills and build community through a structured, collaborative process of peer classroom observation and shared reflection. 

The process involves the best aspect of peer learning – observation and discussion – while excluding judgment and evaluation.  Participants in a square learn about the best practices of other faculty in order to improve their own teaching.

Who’s Involved? A Teaching Square is a group of four faculty members, usually from different disciplines who:

  • Engage in reciprocal classroom visits (on campus or online)
  • Reflect on classroom observations
  • Share teaching materials
  • Share best practices

Teaching Squares are available for face-to-face, blended, and fully online teaching modalities.  

Time Commitment: Participants typically spend 7-10 hours per semester in Teaching Squares activities (scheduled via Doodle poll) which include:

  • Initial organizing meeting – all Squares kickoff (1 hour)
  • Three classroom visits (online or face-to-face) 
  • Square share session (1 hour)
  • Wrap-up meeting – (1 hour)

The Benefits: By participating in Teaching Squares, you will have an opportunity to:

  • Observe, analyze, and celebrate good teaching
  • Increase your understanding of an appreciation for the work of your colleagues
  • Enhance your own teaching based on the shared observations and reflections of your Square partners

Kick-off meeting is Feb 10 from 3-4 p.m. Indicate interest by registering: REGISTER HERE

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