Perhaps you are a new instructor grappling with responses from a mid-point evaluation or are ready to take your teaching to the next level. We are excited to support you in your exploration of pedagogical methods to enhance student learning in the classroom.
Educational developers at the Searle Center are available to cultivate thought partnerships, collaborations, and support for instructors at all stages of their careers who aim to enhance the student learning experience. Our support can be provided in numerous formats including formative feedback, teaching observations, structured student feedback, individualized consultations, departmental requests, and more. We will work with you to gain an understanding of your unique teaching context and supporting your teaching.
Collect formative feedback on your course directly from students. Our trained Formative Feedback Partners guide students through structured discussions known as Small Group Analyses (SGAs), aimed at generating useful feedback for instructors. SGAs typically take place in the middle of the course (weeks 3-7) to provide formative feedback the instructor can enact during that course.
Gather information about your students' learning and receive non-evaluative feedback on your teaching methods by requesting a classroom teaching observation. Educational Developers and Formative Feedback Partners are available to observe your teaching in any context, be it a large classroom, lab, discussion section, or on Zoom.
Receive individualized feedback and support on your teaching through our confidential one-on-one consultation services. All consultations are formative, voluntary, and encourage critical reflection. We offer consultations on a range of learning and teaching topics, including course design, inclusive teaching, student engagement, teaching challenges, and writing teaching statements.
Availability may vary depending on the time of year and the nature of requests.
Work with our educational developers to develop tailored programming, resources, or consultation services for your program or department.
Availability may vary depending on the time of year and the nature of requests.
The Searle Center can provide feedback on educational plans for outside Northwestern grant proposals or on internally funded awards that enhance undergraduate education, such as the Hewlett and Alumnae, through our Individualized Consultations. If you are a grant-seeking/funded investigator who is looking for a collaborator to evaluate an educational program, please reach out to NU Program Evaluation Core.
We host a variety of interactive workshops and gatherings throughout the year to create a space for Northwestern University educators to continue their learning about evidence-based teaching practices and to build community. Topics include developing teaching statements and Teaching-as-Research. You can find a full list of our upcoming workshops and gatherings on our calendar.