Library Assessment: Teaching Assessment Plan (TAP)

The Library's assessment plan has always included receiving feedback from both faculty and students following instruction sessions. The purpose of the Teaching Assessment Plan (TAP) is to provide additional methods for giving and receiving feedback by adding components whereby librarians participate in peer review and supervisors observe and assess one instruction session per calendar year.

TAP will measure the effectiveness of existing instructional practices through collaborative learning, observation, and feedback. The feedback is meant to be formative rather than summative, meaning the observation and feedback can occur at an agreed upon time by participants, and the process is meant to improve the teaching practice of participants instead of providing a formal, quantified assessment.  

The following components make up the Teaching Assessment Plan (TAP). 

Professional Learning Community (PLC):

The PLC will include all teaching librarians, whether full-time or part-time. The purpose of the PLC is to provide the opportunity at least once a calendar year for librarians to share ideas, best practices, and to learn how to give and receive constructive feedback. This can happen virtually or in-person; however, an ideal time may be during the annual library professional development session. Ahead of this meeting, the assigned facilitator (rotates annually) will provide an article, case study, book chapter, lesson plan etc. to guide the discussion. The facilitator can be as creative as they like during this session. Again, the purpose is to provide the opportunity for all to reflect on their teaching practice and to learn from others.  

Observation of Teaching

Supervisor Observation

The Instruction and Outreach Librarian, the Coordinator, or Director will observe one library instruction session for each librarian annually. The observer will use a standard observation form that ties the ARCL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education to the Rowan-Cabarrus Library's learning outcomes. This observation may be used as one component for the librarian's annual performance evaluation. The date and time for these observations will be agreed upon by both parties at least two weeks in advance. 

Peer Observation Partners

Each year, librarians will be paired with an observation partner. Partners are required to observe each other teaching at least once per academic year and can use the observation tool used by library management or not. Whatever the pair agrees upon, is fine. This feedback is meant to be collaborative and used to inform each other's teaching practices. Both the observed and the observer should provide feedback at each session. 

Prior to the session, the two librarians should meet (in-person or virtually) to discuss what should be the focus of the observation, as well as provide any context or details regarding the planned instruction session that may help the observer better prepare.  

As soon after the instruction session as possible, the two should meet to discuss the teaching session keeping in mind the previously agreed upon focus. 

January

• Peer observation partners are assigned.
• A librarian is chosen to be the facilitator for the year. This responsibility rotates annually. 

January - December 

• Peer observation pairs observe each other teaching a minimum of one instruction session between January and December. 
• All librarians will receive one observation by either the Outreach & Instruction Librarian, Coordinator, or Director between January and December. 
• All librarians will meet once annually (in-person or virtually) to discuss relevant articles, book chapters, or other relevant material chosen by the facilitator. A good time for this may be in conjunction with the required annual professional development session.