teaching observation partnerships (toP)
Fall 2025 Cohort | Student Engagement and High Impact Practices
Alternating Tuesdays from 12:30-1:45pm starting Sept 9th
Observe. Reflect. Connect.
The Teaching Observation Partnership (TOP) is a semester-long faculty learning community designed to spark new insights into your teaching through peer observation and reflective dialogue. This program is formative, collaborative, and fully faculty-driven—and that’s what makes it powerful.
Why join TOP?
Let’s be honest—having someone observe your class can make you feel vulnerable. But what we hear time and again is that this program is worth it. It’s not about being evaluated—it’s about connecting with colleagues, seeing new possibilities, and focusing on the aspects of teaching you care about most. You decide what you want feedback on and how you want to grow as an instructor.
This semester’s focus
We’ll focus our observations and reflections around two key aspects of your teaching:
Student Engagement – how to create welcoming, engaged classrooms with meaningful dialogue and participation.
High Impact Teaching Practices – how to use evidence-based practices that foster critical thinking, collaboration, and authentic learning
How it works:
The program is scaffolded to build your comfort with formative observations.
✔Learn together
You’ll begin by observing recorded classrooms together as a group, sharing your observations, and learning the process.You’ll begin by observing recorded classrooms together as a group, sharing your observations, and learning the process.
✔Shift to a mentor
Your first “real” observation of a classroom will be with an experienced TOP mentor* and reflecting on the experience together.
✔ Choose what you want feedback on
You’ll use our Dimensions of Teaching tool to identify what you want to grow or gain insight on related to student engagement in your classroom and/or your use of high impact practices.
✔ Engage in peer observations
You’ll complete 2-3 peer-to-peer class observations as both an observer and observee (based on scheduling), exchanging formative feedback with your observation partner. Over the semester, we will try to partner you with different peers.
✔ Connect in community
We meet bi-weekly to debrief observations, share ideas, surface challenges, and support each other’s growth.
✔ Receive a $300 stipend
Participants who complete the program receive a stipend in recognition of the time invested.
What faculty are saying
Who should apply?
Anyone open to growing their teaching practice through observation and feedback who will be teaching a course (online or in-person) during Fall 2025
Instructors looking to grow their community and expand their teaching repertoire
Those who enjoy trying new strategies—or want to rekindle that curiosity
We also welcome volunteers for our Community Classrooms—a low-commitment way to support the program by opening your classroom for one-time training observations.
Ready to join?
Meeting this semester will be bi-weekly on Tuesdays from 12:30-1:30.
Additional time is required for observations and associated meetings.
Space is limited to keep the group small and supportive.
Acceptance is first-come, first-served.
Questions? Want to talk it through before committing?
Contact: karen.pelletreau@maine.edu
Past TOP Programs
Each year the TOP program focuses on a different aspect of teaching or working with a different population of instructors such as:
Large Enrollment Classrooms
Active Learning Classrooms
New Faculty