Center for Teaching & Mentoring
Teaching Triangles
Teaching Triangles are designed to serve two purposes at MTSU. First, they provide a structure for faculty to learn from one another about teaching practices through peer observations and self-reflection. Second, they create an ongoing dialogue about teaching practices, which contribute to a culture of learning and growth in our delivery of high-quality instruction across campus.
What is a Teaching Triangle?
A group of three faculty members participate in reciprocal teaching observations for the sole purpose of learning and growing as a college instructor. Unlike other observations connected with tenure and/or promotion, these observations are low stakes opportunities to reflect on your own teaching and learn from colleagues in other departments and colleges.
The focus of the Teaching Triangles program is pedagogy, or how you teach, rather than on your content expertise. Participants engage in non-judgmental conversations about the observations completed and reflect on their own practice based on the observations.
How Do Teaching Triangles Work?
Three faculty members committed to learning from each other and working on their teaching practice are placed in a group or “triangle” by the Center for Teaching and Mentoring (CTM). Triangle placements are determined based on class schedules.
When possible, members are placed with faculty from departments other than their own. Once individuals are placed in their respective triangle, they work collaboratively to schedule an initial meeting to get to know one another, share their individual goals for participation, schedule observations, and schedule the final time to meet to de-brief as a group.
Each faculty member commits to observing the other members in the triangle at least one time during the semester. Observations should span the entire class session (or for longer class sessions until the class takes a break). After all participants have completed all observations and reflections, a final meeting occurs to de-brief about what each participant has learned.
The MTSU Teaching Triangles program is modeled after other Teaching Triangles and Teaching Squares programs across the country.
