Services

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.

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Requests for any of our services can be made with a single form.

request one of our services

Small Group Analysis (SGA) & Mid-Quarter Feedback Surveys

Collect formative feedback on your course directly from students. The Searle Center's trained Formative Feedback Partners facilitate Small Group Analyses (SGA) and Mid-quarter Feedback Surveys to generate actionable feedback for instructors.

SGAs entail a 30-minute in-class guided discussion and a 30-minute follow up consultation to debrief feedback, facilitated by a Formative Feedback Partner.

Mid-Quarter Feedback Surveys are distributed anonymously online to collect student responses. A Formative Feedback Partner synthesizes responses and share with the instructor in a 30-minute debrief.

Both options typically are available between weeks 3 and 7 of the quarter to provide formative feedback the instructor can enact during that course.

Teaching Observations

Gather information about your students' learning and receive non-evaluative feedback on your teaching methods by requesting a classroom teaching observation. Searle's 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 at any point in the quarter.

Individualized Consultations

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, student engagement, teaching challenges, and writing teaching statements.

Departmental Requests

Work with our educational developers to develop tailored programming, resources, or consultation services for your program or department.

Grant Feedback

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.