Adjunct Observation Instrument
Criterion Seven - Encourages Contact Between Faculty and Students
Most students desire to have a connection with their instructor. Research shows that the stronger the interaction between a student and the instructor, the more satisfied the student is with the learning experience. Professional interactions can support the sharing of the instructors' educational experiences, and a limited amount of your interests and activities. It's important for the students to know and understand that you have a life outside of college and realize that they have one too.
Course-related interactions can occur in a variety of ways:
- Personal emails
- Course discussions with instructor input (online and on-campus)
- Instructor videos
- Personal feedback on assignments
- Office hours - virtually or in person
Observers will be looking to find evidence related to the instructor:
- Knowing and using student names
- Contacting students if they miss class or an assignment without notice or explanation
- Soliciting student feedback
- Welcoming incorrect answers and correcting them via constructive and respectful feedback
Identified Resources
Chapter 2, “Building Rapport With Students” from Teaching Strategies for the College Classroom: A Collection of Faculty Articles (Weimer, 2013) This book is available in the Center for Learning and Teaching.
Meaningful Learning Through One-on-One Conferences
A Simple Invitation: Please See Me!
