The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) recently launched its first Peer Observation of Teaching (POT) programme.
More than 20 members of RCSI Bahrains academic staff attended the sessions, which were organised by the universitys Professional Development Unit (PDU), in collaboration with the Health Professions Education Centre at RCSI in Dublin.
A collaborative and reciprocal process whereby one peer observes anothers teaching (actual or virtual) and provides supportive and constructive feedback, POT is a means of encouraging continued professional development in teaching and learning through critical reflection.
Increasingly recognised as a valuable support tool for academics in higher education settings to evaluate and develop their teaching, the process has enjoyed steady growth around the world in recent years.
The first programmes at RCSI Bahrain were conducted by RCSI Curriculum Innovator, Dr Martina Crehan, who travelled from Dublin.
A pilot study for the implementation of a peer observation of teaching programme was first carried out by RCSIs Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Zena Moore and Quality Enhancement Executive, Anne Weadick.
The study aimed to establish academic staff perceptions of peer observation of teaching, to implement a pilot of peer observation of teaching and to evaluate the impact of the project, through capturing the experience of both the reviewer and the lecturer reviewed.
Based on the results of this study, a POT working group was established and policy guidelines, and support resources in relation to feedback processes, templates, and reflective practice were developed.
The launch of the POT programme at RCSI Bahrain falls in line with the universitys strategic pillar of Teaching and Learning.
RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RSCI, which was established in 1784. Like its Irish counterpart, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.