The Practice of Peer Observation.

By: Jacqueline M. DiSanto, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Education; Sandy Figueroa, M.S., Associate Professor, Business; Carlos Guevara, M.S., Director, Office of Educational Technology; Antonios Varelas, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences; Diana Macri, M.S.Ed., R.D.H.,  Assistant Professor, Allied Health;
Andrea Fabrizio, Ph.D., Associate Professor, English; Sherese Mitchell, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Education; Sean Gerrity, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, English

Hostos Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY)

 

Abstract

     This paper discusses existing literature on peer observation. It also focuses on work done by an investigative, information-sharing committee at an urban community college in the South Bronx that was created to communicate best practices for conducting peer observations. The Peer Observation Improvement Network for Teaching (POINT) committee views peer observations as faculty-development opportunities that can lead to improved teaching. Using pre- and post-observation conversations to share pedagogy and resources, writing recommendations for growth, and conducting faculty observations in an online environment are examples of topics addressed by POINT.

Key words:  collegial conversations, faculty development, online learning, peer observation, professional growth.

 

Diana Macri, RDH, BSDH, MS.Ed.

Assistant Professor
Hostos Community College, CUNY

Professor Macri teaches three core courses in the Dental Hygiene unit: Oral Pathology, Oral Microbiology and Ethics, Jurisprudence and Practice Management.  Her publications can be seen in medical and dental hygiene journals and she is a frequent contributor to online industry publications.  She has presented at professional conferences nationally and internationally.  She is the current chair of POINT.  Professor Macri is involved in many advocacy efforts, specifically those which seek to resolve health disparities seen in Hispanic populations, both nationally and abroad. She is currently collaborating with dental faculty from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and New York University College of Dentistry, through an ADEA/Gies Foundation grant, to increase dental and dental hygiene student interest in academic careers. She has been appointed to the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee of the American Dental Education Association; is a Peer Reviewer for the Journal of Dental Education, and MedEdPORTAL Publications; was the editorial director for RDH Graduate, a newsletter for dental hygiene students and recent graduates published by Pennwell Corp; and is the Treasurer of the American Academy of Dental Hygiene.

Contact information:
Phone:  718 319-7970
Email:  dmacri@hostos.cuny.edu