Want to Help Improve our Teaching? Student Observation of Teaching

Student Observation of Teaching is an opportunity for students to collaborate with academics to develop their teaching. The student observer acts as a “critical friend” to the academic, offering feedback on their practice, and a fresh perspective on how they work with students.  This might be done by observing some of their teaching yourself; leading a focus group of students; talking with them about questions, challenges, or ideas they have in their teaching; or a combination of all of these.  Full training and support will be given.  Students have consistently said they enjoyed it, found it interesting, felt it developed their relationship with academic staff, and offered them benefits in terms of thinking about their own learning habits.  As one previous participant put it, they realised that “Teachers learn too; through communications with students, we can help each other to improve their teaching and our learning”.

How will this scheme help me?

Participation in this scheme should help you reflect on your own learning, and consider how different forms of learning and teaching might help you get the best from your studies.  It will be useful experience for your CV, especially if you are thinking about teaching as a career, and adds real value to your mySkills profile.  It helps shape the university’s stand on what good teaching is and does, and, in some instance, can support you in pursuing external accreditation through Advance HE.  Obviously, all of this should also have benefits for other students across the university; and it makes a real difference to individual participants.  A student who took part in a previous instance said, “I am happy to have achieved something and act as a bridge between students and the academic department. This is one of the best experiences for me at The University of Sheffield.”

How can I get involved?

Further information about the scheme is available in a briefing note, which sets out what is involved for both student and staff participants.  There’s an initial training event, and ongoing workshops and support throughout the semester.  You can take part in the autumn semester, the spring, or the summer period; and we’d ask you to complete a brief Google Form, which will be welcome by 9am on Wednesday 9th October. Successful applicants will be confirmed by Thursday 10th and will be invited to a launch session; this takes place twice, on Friday 11th October 12:30 - 14:00, and Monday 14th October 17:00 - 18:30.