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Policy Statement

Classroom observation of the teaching and learning process is done at PSU to improve the teaching of the individuals being observed, to improve teaching at the university in general, to articulate and underscore the university's commitment to quality teaching, and to enhance the student-centeredness of classroom instruction.

Background and Justification

Background: Prince Sultan University’s Classroom Observation Policy is anchored in our unwavering dedication to superior educational standards. Within our lively and varied academic sphere, the university discerns the essential need for ongoing refinement of teaching and learning approaches. The classroom observation initiative is a crucial tool for obtaining valuable insights into our instructional ambiance, endorsing a practice of contemplative teaching, and cultivating an ethos of perpetual enhancement and creativity in educational methodologies.

Justification: The Classroom Observation Policy at Prince Sultan University is integral to highlighting exemplary teaching while identifying areas for development. It offers a systematic lens for scrutinizing the quality and effectiveness of teaching and students’ learning experiences. This policy reaffirms the university's commitment to ongoing improvement, setting uniform expectations for instructional excellence among faculty and students alike. It provides instructors with invaluable, systematic feedback, refines their teaching approaches, and promotes reflective teaching practices. Besides offering insights into the learning environment, the policy aids in devising experiences that are engaging and inclusive, playing a pivotal role in student success and satisfaction. It also ensures compliance with accreditation standards, reinforcing the university's standing in the academic community. Furthermore, it lays down a fair and consistent evaluation framework for all classrooms, irrespective of the department or discipline, ensuring assessment transparency and fairness.

Scope and Purpose

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines on the process and procedures of classroom observations.

Scope: This policy covers all occupants of the classroom: undergraduate and graduate-level students and faculty members from all programs and academic departments.

Principles of the Policy

It is mandated that each faculty member be observed at least once a year to monitor the quality of each program's teaching and learning process. This mandated observation will consist of a pre-observation meeting, the observation, and a post-observation meeting. The actual observation should be a minimum of 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the course being observed.

Each academic leader or assigned person to observe will be required to attend the classroom observation workshops offered by the TLC.

The practice of observation at PSU should comply with the academic integrity policy and be conducted fairly.

Definitions

Faculty: Any faculty, researcher, or part-timer teaching the graduate or undergraduate course at PSU.

Academic Leader: The program chair of a specific Program or Department.

Classroom Observation: the methodical inspection of teaching and/or learning activities. It involves deliberate data collection and analysis to assess and enhance educational practices within the classroom setting.

Peer Observation: “a purposeful, non-judgmental, collaborative process whereby a colleague, or peer, is invited to observe a selected aspect/s of another’s teaching and provide constructive feedback on its effectiveness in promoting student learning.”

Responsibilities and Implementation Strategies

1. The academic departments are committed to ensuring that classroom observations are both developmental and supportive. The department chairpersons or their designated representatives are responsible for conducting the class observation. The observer(s) must perform their role with competence, integrity, and courtesy. They are also responsible for evaluating faculty members in an objective and fair manner.
2. The classroom observation is to be conducted at least once per academic year, of a maximum of 60 minutes in length, except in exceptional circumstances. Those exceptional circumstances are where the faculty member chooses to request a further observation or where concerns have been raised about a faculty member’s performance, which may require further observation to take place.
3. The classroom observation process has to be recorded and reported accurately, and the confidentiality of the information gained has to be maintained.
4. The department chairperson or whoever represents him/her has to agree on classroom observation to be carried out. The process has to be recorded using the Pre-observation form. A link to the form can be found in Appendices.
5. The classroom observation is to be recorded using the Observation form. A link to the form can be found in Appendices.
6. The classroom observation is to be recorded using the observation form. The written record of feedback will include the date on which the observation took place, the lesson observed, and the length of the observation.
7. The faculty member will have access to the observation feedback after the observation.
8. A brief post-observation meeting will be conducted with the faculty member to discuss the observation and its feedback. A link to the form can be found in Appendices. The faculty member will be able to respond to the feedback given at the post-observation meeting. The process is to be recorded using the post-observation form.
9. The formal classroom observation by the Chair/Associate Chair report will be used in the annual faculty evaluation.

Procedures for Handling Policy Violation

Confidentiality Breach:
● Violation: sharing observation feedback or results without authorization.
● Response: Enforce confidentiality reminders and impose stricter consequences for repeated violations, up to employment termination if necessary.

Feedback Non-Compliance:
● Violation: Not providing necessary feedback post-observation to faculty members.
● Response: Mandate additional training for observers.

Improper Data Usage:
● Violation: Utilizing observation data for unintended purposes, like research, defamation, or personal benefit.
● Response: Impose disciplinary measures through formal disciplinary procedures.

Faculty Non-Cooperation:
● Violation: Faculty resistance to observation participation or improvement implementation.
● Response: Faculty should be addressed through reminders and, if non-compliance continues, through formal disciplinary procedures.

This policy is read together with the other University’s policies:

• Compliance Investigation Policy: link
• Compliance Reporting Policy: link
• Disciplinary Policy: link

Appendices

• Pre-observation form
• Observation form
• Post-observation form

References

• Reference 1
• Reference 2
• Reference 3
• Reference 4