Teaching Squares
Share the joys and challenges of teaching in an atmosphere free of judgment
The Purpose
Developed by Anne Wessely of St. Louis Community College, the Teaching Squares program is designed to improve teaching skills and build community through a structured, non-threatening process of classroom observation and shared reflection. The process is collegial and non-evaluative. Participants in a Teaching Square learn about the best practices of other faculty in order to improve their own teaching.
Teaching squares can be used for general community-building and knowledge, and they can also be tailored to more specific teaching interests, such as universal design for learning, trauma responsive teaching, culturally responsive teaching, and more. You can share your preferences when you register below.
Who’s Involved?
A Teaching Square is a group of four faculty members (typically from different discipline) who:
- Engage in reciprocal classroom or on-line class visits
- Share teaching materials
- Reflect on classroom or online observations
- Celebrate best practices with colleagues
Time Commitment
(one academic quarter)
Participants typically spend around eight hours over the course of one quarter in
Teaching Square activities which include:
- Initial meeting
- Three classroom or online visits
- Final Meeting
- Reflection submitted in Teaching Squares Canvas shell
If your teaching square opts for an in-person campus session for the final meeting, the TLC can help you book a meeting space, and we will provide you with snacks or a meal depending on the time of day!
The Benefits
By participating in Teaching Squares, you will have an opportunity to:
- Observe, reflect and celebrate good teaching
- Increase your understanding of and appreciation for the work of your colleagues
- Enhance your own teaching based on what you have learned from your Teaching Squares partners.
Note: Teaching Squares is approved at 8 standardized hours through the Professional Placement and Advancement Committee (PPAC). That means that full time faculty who apply for PPAC credit for their participation in a teaching square do not need to submit a time log. Adjunct faculty receive a stipend of $300 upon completion of the activity.
Register
Please sign up: Teaching Squares Registration Form
We look forward to working with you! If you have questions, contact the Teaching and Learning Center at tlc@clark.edu.
If you need accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact Human Resources at hr@clark.edu.