Peer coaching: Teachers helping teachers

Peer coaching is a process in which teachers visit each other's classes and meet to pool their observations and expertise. It is based on the premise that teachers have a wealth of experience and knowledge about teaching and that “we are the experts” and can improve our teaching both by observing others and by being observed. Faculty members' and students' responses to peer coaching programs have been overwhelmingly positive. For example, almost 60 percent of participants in New Mexico judged peer coaching as the most effective teaching improvement strategy when compared with teaching workshops, reading about teaching, and evaluations by administrators, peers and students.

We thank Jody Crowley and Barbara Millis for their help on the instruments, as well as Lisa Bond-Maupin and Harriet Linkin for their comments on the article. For funding this project we thank The Center for Teaching Excellence at Eastern New Mexico University, as well as the Center for Educational Development, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the Department of Criminal Justice at New Mexico State University.

We thank Jody Crowley and Barbara Millis for their help on the instruments, as well as Lisa Bond-Maupin and Harriet Linkin for their comments on the article. For funding this project we thank The Center for Teaching Excellence at Eastern New Mexico University, as well as the Center for Educational Development, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the Department of Criminal Justice at New Mexico State University.

Notes

We thank Jody Crowley and Barbara Millis for their help on the instruments, as well as Lisa Bond-Maupin and Harriet Linkin for their comments on the article. For funding this project we thank The Center for Teaching Excellence at Eastern New Mexico University, as well as the Center for Educational Development, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the Department of Criminal Justice at New Mexico State University.