Learn from your peers by watching them teach in a live or virtual classroom. Or, open your class to a group of peers to showcase your teaching successes. The Office of Teaching and Learning is bringing a new Instructional Rounds program to NDSU. The Instructional Rounds program has been adapted to education from the field of medicine. This program is designed to showcase the excellent teaching happening at NDSU and open these classrooms to those who want to observe their methods and strategies.

In this program, a group of faculty and instructors attend a class or several classes to watch and observe how different faculty and instructors manage their class. After each class visit there will be a discussion session with the host instructor. This is where you can ask any questions you have about their teaching method and hear from the instructor on what it took implement their method(s). 

As a participant in the Instructional Rounds program you will learn from instructors by observing them in their classroom settings. You will also bring your knowledge and expertise to the discussion while learning how to interpret and apply different teaching strategies and methods to your classroom environment. In this program we will learn together.

Who Can Participate In Instructional Rounds?

Any faculty, instructor, graduate assistant, teaching assistant, or anyone else who has a teaching role in the classroom can participate. This program is designed for self-reflection on your own teaching practices. It also allows you a way to learn new teaching techniques or strategies that may benefit you in your classroom.

How Does The Instructional Rounds Program Work?

Participants in the Instructional Rounds program will visit the host courses listed below at the scheduled dates and times. Host instructors are fully aware that you will be there. As a participant in the Instructional Rounds program you choose which classes you want to visit, whether that is one class or all of them. While the content of your course may be different than the content of each host course, the strategies used apply broadly to all content areas. 

Select the title of the host class you would like to visit to view more details about the highlighted strategies and the instructor. Complete the registration form to confirm your participation. We ask participants to register because each host instructor has specified the number of observers their class can successfully manage and we want to ensure that we stick to the participation limit. Each host instructor will receive a list of registered participants for their host session.

Each host class will offer a question and answer session either immediately following the class or at a time that is convenient for participants. These sessions may be held in person or via Zoom. The question and answer session is a time when you can ask questions about the methods or strategies you have seen the host instructor use.

How Do Virtual or Online Instructional Rounds Work?

In a virtual or online instructional rounds session, you will register for the class of your choice. Within a few days of registering you will be added to the host instructors course in Blackboard. From there you will have access to view how the class is set up and any other aspect that each host instructor wants to highlight. You will be able to access their course at a date and time that is convenient for you. The question and answer session for our virtual and online instructional rounds courses will be held at a time that is convenient for all participants after the semester has ended. 

To become a Instructional Rounds observer, select "register now" to register for the session or sessions of your choice.

Check back throughout the semester for additional instructional rounds opportunities. Online classes, listed at the very bottom, can be observed at any point during the semester during a time that is convenient for you. There is no limit to the number of participants in online classes.

Online Instructional Rounds Options

These sessions can be accessed at anytime from now through May 5. You can access the site multiple times at a time that is convenient for you. Question and answer sessions will be arranged by the instructor near the end of the semester.

JANUARY 10, 2023 - MAY 5, 2023  |  COMM 435: Critical Approaches to Popular Culture   |  Anytime  |  Blackboard & Slack  |  Register >>

• Showcasing: Use of Slack, journals, and video feedback.
• Instructor: Melissa Vosen Callens
• Limit: Unlimited Participants
• Course Enrollment Size: Small
• Q&A Session: Instructor will use Zoom and coordinate a time with all participants toward the end of the semester.

JANUARY 10, 2023 - MAY 5, 2023  |  COMM 425: Specialty Writing   |  Anytime  |  Blackboard  |  Register >>

• Showcasing: Use of VoiceThread, quizzes, mini-lectures, video feedback, synchronous writing conferences, and group synchronous help sessions.
• Instructor: Melissa Vosen Callens
• Limit: Unlimited Participants
• Course Enrollment Size: Small
• Q&A Session: Instructor will use Zoom and coordinate a time with all participants toward the end of the semester.

If you are interested in showcasing a successful teaching strategy or method you currently use, consider opening your class as a host class for the instructional rounds program. We are seeking host classes of any size to observe and discuss. As an observed instructor you get to choose when we come to your class and how many individuals your class can successfully host. You also get to choose the level of participation from our observers. This can include strict observation from the back of the room to full participation in class or lab activities.

Your instructional methods do not need to be perfect to be a host class you just need to be able to show that the method or strategy works in your classroom environment. Participants attending instructional rounds are interested in learning from you and how they can apply it to their classroom. 

As a host instructor you will also participate in a post class discussion session so that Instructional Rounds participants have a chance to ask questions and draw out further information about how you plan for and set up your class sessions.

If you are interested in showcasing your teaching strategies and methods, contact Dr. Stacy Duffield, OTL director at 701-231-7102.