Peer Observation

The Academy

Peer Observation

Co Chairs:
Susan Frankl, MD
Lori Newman, EdM

2012-2013 Meetings:
Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 8 to 9:30 am - TMEC 446
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 - 8 to 9:30 am - TMEC 443
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 - 8 to 9:30 am - TMEC 445
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - 8 to 9:30 am - TMEC 334

Members:
Meredith Atkins, MD
Maren Batalden, MD
Lisa Breen, MD
Dara Brodsky, MD
David Brown, MD
Susan Burgin, MD
James Burns, MD
Anne Fabiny, MD
Laurie Fishman, MD
Holly Gooding, MD
Barbara Gottlieb, MD MPH
Anita Gupta, MD
Harley Haynes, MD
Tanzeema Hossain, MD
Kerri Palamara, MD
Toni Peters, PhD
Alberto Puig, MD PhD
David Roberts, MD
Lidia Schapira, MD
Anjala Tess, MD
Ann-Marie Thomas, MD
Robert Thomas, MD
Kamen Vlassakov, MD
Ruth Ann Vleugels, MD

The primary goals of the HMS Academy’s Interest Group in Peer Observation of Teaching are to develop a culture of teaching improvement across HMS that welcomes peer observation; individualize faculty development for those involved in teaching at the UME, GME, and CME levels; and generate a community-wide conversation about best teaching practices. During our inaugural year, we focused our efforts on cataloguing current HMS peer observation programs; surveying the faculty to determine their level of interest in and attitudes towards a peer observation of teaching program; and presenting an HMS Academy mini-symposium on peer observation.

Despite the interest group’s small size, we were able to accomplish the goals set forth for this year. After obtaining IRB approval, we designed a peer observation of teaching survey that was distributed to the HMS Academy membership and the pre-clinical faculty and course directors. Results of the survey indicate that the majority of respondents (n=159) are interested in a participating in a peer observation program and receiving training as a peer observer. Moreover, respondents believe that such a program would provide insight into their teaching and enhance their teaching skills.

The goals of the symposium, presented in early June 2011, were to determine the elements needed to introduce peer observation of teaching in courses, clerkships, and residency programs as well as identify barriers and viable solutions to implementation of peer observation of teaching programs. Through a keynote address, small and large group discussions, a panel Q&A, and a summary of the day’s findings, participants reached consensus that a peer observation of teaching program would help make teaching explicit, objectify best teaching practices, and benefit both those being observed and those conducting observations. However, participants determined that the success of such a program would depend on institutional support, training faculty observers, and using the criteria of effective teaching to develop reliable and valid observation instruments.

In the coming year we would like to increase the interest group’s membership, support the development of existing and new peer observation of teaching programs, and continue work on creating HMS peer observation forms that are anchored in behavioral descriptors of effective teaching. Finally, we would like to assist in developing training programs for faculty interested in becoming peer observers.

If you have any information of current HMS and HMS-Affiliated peer observation faculty teaching activities, please help us gather data by filling out this form:

Peer Observation of Faculty Teaching Activity Form

Interest Group Resources:

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