Peer Consultation for Teaching Program

Clinical teaching is integral to the mission of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta. Academic and clinical academic faculty are responsible for teaching learners at a variety of stages (undergraduate, postgraduate, graduate) and in multiple clinical venues (such as in-patient, clinic, and procedural areas). Commonly, evaluation and feedback for such teaching is limited to variably submitted reports from learners, and “teaching awards”.

Teachers can observe and provide feedback to other teachers on their teaching and its effectiveness. If performed effectively, this can provide valuable support for continuous professional development, can be included in overall assessment of teaching, and can have a positive impact on learners. Peer-review of another’s teaching is akin to a consultation, and consists of formally observing a teaching activity, followed by a timely, constructive and consolidative feedback session. Various evaluative, developmental, and peer-review models of observation of teaching programs exist. We have chosen the peer-review model, in which teachers observe each other, using a set of mutually agreed upon “rules of engagement” and without power differential or judgment, and with an anticipation of mutual learning, discovery, and community building.

Workshops

For effective peer-review processes and teaching consultation, the peer reviewer requires training in observation and feedback techniques, and our program provides structured and standardized training for all clinical educators in our faculty who wish to become trained peer consultants.

These trained peer consultants  are available to observe and provide feedback to all clinical teachers who request this service (see People & Community contacts below). The program also includes evaluation of its utility and impact on teachers as a measure of long term outcome. The program is in active collaboration with the University’s Centre for Teaching and Learning and is presently expanding  consultations and peer review to other venues of teaching such as small and large group classroom teaching.

For more information about the program or to find out about upcoming workshops, please contact: fdpeds@ualberta.ca

Upcoming workshop dates will be announced soon; to be notified of the next dates, please contact fdpeds@ualberta.ca to be added to mailing list.

The facilitators for this workshop are Dr. Manjula Gowrishankar, Dr. Bruce Fisher, and Dr. Louanne Keenan.

Please note that this invitation will be circulated within the faculty.  There is limited space in the workshops so please confirm your attendance as soon as possible by e-mailing fdpeds@ualberta.ca. At that time, please also indicate whether you wish to become a peer consultant or become a better teacher, and advise if you have any dietary restrictions as a light lunch will be served.

Other Products and Processes

People & Community Contacts

The following faculty members have successfully completed the FoMD peer consultation of peer teaching workshops and are available for observation and consultation on teaching.