Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Faculty Mentoring for Teaching at U of T

Information on upcoming Peer-to-Peer Faculty Mentoring for Teaching Program will be announced at a later date.

“An enormously important initiative for the teaching mission of U of T.”
2017-2018 P2P Cohort participant

Based on the findings in the Faculty Mentoring for Teaching Report (CTSI, 2016), CTSI piloted a mentoring program: Peer-2-Peer (P2P) Faculty Mentoring for Teaching @ U of T in 2016-17 – read the Pilot report. Based on the success of and enthusiasm for this initiative, cohorts were launched in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

A recent presentation in the Centre for Faculty Development (CFD) in the Faculty of Medicine by Carol Rolheiser and Cora McCloy highlighted the history of this initiative and findings based on three iterations of the P2P cohort. Visit the CFD to see a video of the presentation.

 

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“[Benefits] New networks, new ideas about ways to get more involved in my faculty and most importantly, new ideas about teaching.”
2017-2018 P2P Cohort participant

What is P2P?
P2P is a faculty mentoring for teaching program run by the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (CTSI) that involves a cohort of paired colleagues collaborating through structured, facilitated workshops and 1-1 partnerships to improve the quality of their course, the student learning experience, and to offer a supportive space for instructors to try new strategies, approaches and build confidence in their teaching.

When is the P2P program?

  • There is no upcoming P2P Program scheduled.

What are the purposes and goals of P2P?

  • to increase reflection on one’s teaching and gain a better understanding of students’ learning needs
  • to build leadership capacity and mentoring opportunities for faculty at U of T whereby methods and approaches that support effective teaching can be shared (PATS Guide, 2011)*
  • to provide a “structured framework for ongoing improvement of a [course] and learning practice with input, assistance and guidance from faculty teaching leaders” (PATS Guide, 2011: 2)
  • to improve the quality of a course and student learning experiences within that course through a focus on quality teaching and through analysis of student course feedback.

What program model does P2P use?

  • P2P draws on U of T- specific findings from the CTSI Report and employs a dyadic peer assisted teaching partnership model, combined with a network model
  • the co-mentoring approach allows for both faculty members to participate in peer observation of teaching, review course evaluation/feedback data, conduct mid-course feedback with students, and establish teaching-related goals
  • during the program you will receive materials and resources to support your teaching and upon completion of the program CTSI will provide a letter of recognition for your participation.

What are my commitments to the program?

  • the P2P process requires a commitment to three CTSI-facilitated meetings/workshops, (pre, during, and post semester), a peer observation, collecting mid-course feedback from students, and engaging in regular conversations with one’s mentor-coach.

How many participants will be in the P2P program?

  • A maximum of 30 participants (15 pairs) to ensure all program sessions allow a space for reflection and opportunities to interact with other participants and senior CTSI facilitators

How will I be matched with a peer?

  • CTSI staff will match instructors by campus, related disciplines, and with a colleague from their appointment stream (e.g., pre-tenure with a mid or later career tenured faculty member; pre-promotion teaching steam with post-promotion teaching stream)

“Faculty mentoring has shifted from a focus on hierarchical support and coaching for new hires and junior faculty to addressing the mentoring needs of individuals across their career spans.”
(Ponce et al., 2005)

*PATS Guide refers to the Peer Assisted Teaching Scheme developed by the University of Monash, Australia.