Teaching Consultations and Observations

Although you can learn many teaching principles, tools, and practices through workshops and articles, there is no substitute for individual discussion with a Poorvu Center staff member about your teaching. Through confidential individual consultations, we routinely support members of the Yale community with course design, section planning, effective use of technology, assignment development, academic job market preparation, collecting and interpreting student feedback, and online course development. 

Confidential consultations are available in person or through Zoom to any Yale instructor or future instructor and begin with a conversation about goals and instructional needs; librarians or others may be included for resource guidance. Technology staff can advise on tools like Canvas, videos, blogs, and MOOCs to support both in-person and global teaching initiatives.

If you’re curious about how your teaching is landing or just want a fresh perspective on your teaching practices, a  member of our team can visit your class —focusing on the goals you identify with us in advance. After the observation, we’ll meet with you to debrief, share what we noticed, and talk through any patterns, questions, or ideas that emerged. It’s a supportive, collaborative process designed to help you reflect and grow in a way that fits your teaching style and context.

A Small Group Feedback Session (SGFS) is a great way to check in with your students mid-course and gather meaningful, candid feedback. A Poorvu Center staff member will work with you to design questions for students that will give you the particular insights you want on your teaching. The staff member will then  observe your class and, during the last 20-30 minutes, lead a conversation to gather feedback from your students (without you present). After the feedback session, we share a summary of their feedback with you in a confidential, non-evaluative debrief. Because the session is anonymous and interactive, the insights tend to be especially clear, constructive, and actionable—and it can help students feel more invested in the course, too.