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Peer Support of Teaching

Peer Support of Teaching Testimonial


"...they helped me work on how to better communicate my material with my students" 

Ahmad Hanif of Pharmaceutical Sciences describes his experience with the program.

What Is Peer Support of Teaching?

Peer Support of Teaching pairs colleagues to work together to share ideas, learn from one another, build skills, and potentially address challenges related to teaching and learning. Peer Support of Teaching is not evaluation or remediation and the activities that take place during the collaboration are completely confidential.

Peer Support of Teaching can occur in a variety of ways. You and your Peer Support Associate (another faculty member or graduate student) will determine the best approach based on your needs. You may choose one or more of the following:

  1. Collaborative reflection on a teaching observation (feedback may be provided, but a formal peer evaluation of teaching will not be able to be provided)
  2. Discussion of teaching and learning (may involve review of materials, e.g., syllabi, learning objectives, teaching strategies <including face-to-face, blended, online>, assignments, student work, SEIs)
  3. Recorded classes (audio and/or video)
  4. Student focus group
  5. Observation of a peer’s class 
  6. Preparation of teaching documentation for promotion and tenure
  7. Course review or debriefing
  8. Development of a new course

How Will Peer Support of Teaching Benefit Me?

The primary purposes of Peer Support of Teaching are to enhance teaching and learning based on your goals and help you become a more reflective teacher.

Please keep in mind that peer support of teaching differs from a peer evaluation of teaching as referenced in the P&T procedural document newly proposed in January 2023. 

Peer support of teaching is the voluntary process to collaborate with a TLC faculty associate and obtain support and feedback on teaching.  Feedback is considered confidential and is shared directly with the faculty member for the purpose of continuous improvement.  That individual may or may not choose to include this documentation in their review file (or make mention of this process in the teaching narrative). That decision is left to the individual requesting the observation.

In contrast, a more formal peer evaluation of teaching is the review of teaching with the primary purpose of assessing the quality of teaching as described contractually.  This is generally intended to be included in the individual’s file to be considered in the formal review process.

Who Is Eligible for Peer Support of Teaching?

Any instructor (full-time or part-time), postdoc, or graduate teaching assistant at WVU can request Peer Support of Teaching regardless of the teaching delivery modality (face-to-face, blended, online). This is a free service provided through the Teaching and Learning Commons (TLC) to the WVU teaching community.

What Is the First Step?

To arrange for Peer Support of Teaching, simply complete the online form.

After you request Peer Support of Teaching, a Peer Support Associate will be matched with you based on your needs. You and your peer will meet to discuss on what you want to focus during your work together. The two of you will discuss options and mutually determine the best approach to support your needs.

Please keep in mind that requests will be fulfilled as resources are available. If you have any questions about the Peer Support of Teaching process, call the TLC at 304-293-5824.

Peer Support Team

Vagner Benedito
Associate Professor of Biochemical Genetics

Steve Davis
Associate Professor of Public Health

William Hal Gorby
Teaching Associate Professor

Kimberlyn Gray
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, WVU Institute of Technology

Todd Hamrick
Teaching Associate Professor of Fundamentals of Engineering

Kris Hash
Professor, School of Social Work

Heather Henderson
Assistant Professor of Health Policy, Management, and Leadership; Director of Accreditation, Planning, and Evaluation

Peggy Lambert Fink
Assistant Professor of Nursing, WVU Institute of Technology

Jay Malarcher
Associate Professor and BA Program Director of Theatre History and Criticism

Amy Weaver
Business Technology Instructor, Potomac State College