The Innovation Centre wants you to be a square – that is, it is looking for faculty volunteers who want to improve their teaching.

During the fall and winter semesters, the Centre runs a Teaching Squares program for both UOIT and Durham College.

Teaching Squares involves a self-reflective process about teaching gained through observation of one’s peers. It is not peer evaluation but self-evaluation in a safe, mutually supportive environment. It is not a program restricted to new teachers, but is more successful if it includes those a wide range of teaching experience. In this way, those new to the field can learn from the more experienced or innovative.

Teaching squares foster conversations about teaching, disseminates innovative teaching practices, creates an understanding of a colleague’s work; builds connections across different disciplines; and recognizes and reinforces good teaching practice.

The basis of the program is simple. Four instructors from different disciplines (the square) visit each other’s classes to observe teaching methods, attitudes, classroom materials, and classroom management. After the instructors have observed each other’s classes, they get together to reflect on the positive aspects they have learned and how they might improve their own classes. This is followed by a gathering of all Teaching Square participants who share their experiences and add to the learning. The time required over the semester is about seven hours.

The program is simple and is being adopted at colleges and universities across North America. Instructors have found it to be so helpful that most sign on to participate in Teaching Squares more than once.

For more information or to volunteer for the program, please contact Janice MacMillan or Maureen Wideman.