Classroom Observation

To complete the traditional classroom observation students in the AT program are required to observe and reflect on three sessions of a class in which one is not a participant. Alternatively, participants can choose to reflect on their current experiences as a Teaching Assistant or Teaching Associate. If you are a Teaching Assistant or Teaching Associate, we recommend that you still choose to complete the traditional classroom observation for your own benefit, but it is not required.

In order to complete a traditional classroom observation you will need to do the following:

• Solicit and secure the agreement of the professor whom you intend to observe;
• Arrange a pre-observation meeting with the professor (see the Classroom Observation form);
• Observe the class on three separate occasions;
• Write a reflection on your experience (see the Classroom Observation form);
• Submit a bibliography of 10 teaching techniques, gleaned during your time in the program or from your observation experience. For each technique, include a short, paragraph-length discussion of how or why you have or plan to make use of this practice.
• Email your reflection along with the Faculty Verification form to atprogram@georgetown.edu.

If you choose to meet this requirement by reflecting on your experience as a Teaching Assistant or Teaching Associate, please see the TA/TAssoc Verification form.

Deadlines

We recommend you attend the Effective Classroom Interaction Workshop before observing, as the activities and theories from that workshop would be good practices to keep note of when observing and debriefing with your professor. You must submit these materials no later than the submission deadline of your graduating semester (see Submission Schedule).

Resources

Please see our "Resources" page for ideas about what makes effective teaching. You can see a sample list of techniques here (PDF).