• General post-observation questions.
• Additional specific questions based on your observation notes.
• Provide constructive feedback.
• Help the instructor articulate his or her next steps.
• If a written report of the observation is produced ...

1. Was this a typical class meeting?
2. What is your impression of how this class went?
3. What were the strengths of this class session? How did it meet your instructional goals?
4. If you were to teach this particular class again, what might you do in the same way? What might you choose to do differently?
5. What teaching strengths could you apply to make these changes and enhance your teaching skills?
6. How does this class compare with the other(s) you teach?

• "When you were talking about _____ what was your sense of how the students were following you? "
• "I noticed that some students were participating a lot more actively in the discussion than others. How do you feel about the way students are participating?"

Constructive feedback:

1. is descriptive, rather than evaluative
2. is specific, rather than general
3. focuses on behavior, rather than on the person
4. is directed toward behavior that the receiver can do something about
5. emphasizes sharing information, rather than giving advice
6. comes in amounts that the receiver can use, rather than everything that could possibly be said
7. is checked to insure clear communication

   adapted from Bergquist & Phillips (1975), A Handbook for Faculty Development. New York: Danville Press.

Based on your observations and your discussion with the instructor, help the instructor identify one or two specific areas to learn more about or continue developing in. For example, work with the instructor to fill in the blanks in statements like these:

• "As a result of this observation and discussion, I would like to work on improving my skills in the following areas ... "
• "As a result of this observation and discussion, I plan to learn more about _____ and apply that learning to my teaching."

Meet with the instructor to discuss your observations before you draft the report that is to be filed. Allow the instructor to review and respond to the initial draft before a final draft of the observation is filed.

If a report goes into a permanent file, be sure to file observer reports and instructor responses together.