reviews and observations

[mochi_tsuki]

I'm in my first year of a tenure-track job, after several years as an adjunct (elsewhere). In my adjunct days, once a year a tenured faculty member would sit in on one of my lectures to make sure I wasn't an embarrassment to the department and other than that I was left to my own devices

Comments

[tx_cronopio]

Wow. That's pretty high. Maybe they've had problems with some junior faculty and are trying to be proactive?

[mochi_tsuki]

As far as I can tell, this is standard at this university. They are very big on procedures and paperwork.

[st_crispins]

I don't have review meetings because our department is tiny and well, I know how I'm doing :)

But we tenure track folks have 4 people sit in our classes once a year and twice during the second year on the tenure track.

Your situation sounds a bit excessive but not too much.

[st_crispins]

Correction: it's 5 people. My dean, the two other profs from my department and two faculty from outside my department. And we're a small college.

[mochi_tsuki]

So that's even more than I have! My department has close to 40 people, so there are plenty of tenured types to watch over us fledgelings.

[sensaes]

Sounds positively, claustrophobically flattering. ;o)

[sensaes]

With an extra 'a'. ;o)

[mochi_tsuki]

I get the claustrophobic. For me, somewhat nervewracking. But how is it flattering?

Getting past the claustrophobia and revelling in the attention.

[sensaes]

Try viewing it that way. Perform a little Jedi mind trick on yourself and, instead of feeling threatened, or pressured by the interest, tell yourself that it's because your work and teaching are of such an outstanding quality that others wish to observe and discuss it.

Actually, I'm surprised that such an approach hasn't already been suggested to you by some of this community's more outspoken and egotistical members...

[fountaingirl]

Hm. Maybe this is field-dependent? It isn't so at my uni, but I can't speak for other depts let alone other universities.

In a way this protects you, though. If multiple people evaluate you, ostensibly this limits the power and sway of any one evaluation and should reduce perception (and personality issue) biases. trying to find a bright side, I tried.

[mochi_tsuki]

trying to find a bright side

That's very sweet, but unnecessary. I'm not particularly distressed by all the evaluating. Well, mostly not. I was a bit thrown today because one of my observers showed up sort of unannounced. He'd told me he'd be observing my lecture class, but then showed up for my seminar as well. I try to be better prepared when I'm going to be observed and today's seminar discussion was not one of my best topics, so having an unannounced observer was a bit annoying. But I felt like it went reasonably well.

I'm just curious as to whether this level of review/observation is normal.

[ancarett]

Wow. You know? Nobody ever came into one of my classes to observe my teaching. They did have the chance to look at my course outlines, assignments, tests and evaluations, but still. Nobody actually cared enough to observe in person. I still received tenure but I have found myself at odds with colleagues over what constitutes good teaching.

In retrospect, I think it would be good to have a clear procedure to review tenure candidate's teaching and a designated list of reviewers. But probably not quite so many as you have outlined above. The mid-year, year-end AND research-plan-assessment review seems a bit over the top.

[mochi_tsuki]

First, cool icon!

Nobody? Never? Ummm. Err. So. Was evaluation for tenure based purely on publications?

I'm not surprised that you have found yourself "at odds with colleagues over what constitutes good teaching." I suspect that my department is a little excessive in their commitment to teaching standards, but I'm glad that they care.

[ancarett]

Nobody. Never. However, it is a very small department and I am sure that they milked the gossipy student grapevine for all that mixed metaphor is worth. I had to submit an enormous dossier (in duplicate!) for tenure evaluation -- publications, teaching documentation and service.

I do know that my colleagues care about teaching, but I think that we're hampered by a grandfathered system of evaluations and a union agreement that probably means we can't do classroom evaluations. I'd asked about starting those a few years back and was shot down by the old guard. Now that they're all safely retired, I think it's time to reopen the issue.

[mochi_tsuki]

milked the gossipy student grapevine

Now, there's a fascinating image!

The changing of the guard does open up opportunities. Good luck with that.