One of the most effective ways that students can learn is collaborating with a peer. This paper will describe a peer learning project that is the focal point for a 7-session seminar that prepares graduate teaching instructors (GTIs) to teach. "The "Seminar for Teaching Assistants in Engineering" is a required course for all graduate students who are independently teaching a recitation, lab session, or course in the College of Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. Approximately 60 students enroll in the fall and spring semesters. During the first half of the semester the students attend one two hour class per week. Various topics, tied to three themes, "Knowing Your Students", "Strategic Course Design" and "Teaching Practice", are addressed during these sessions. The remainder of the semester is devoted to teaching observations. The students are required to be observed while teaching twice, once with the course instructor and once with a peer GTI who is enrolled in the course. Initially the course consisted of one observation where the instructor observed each student. Student's comments and suggestions in course evaluations indicated that they would like to be observed more often to have feedback on their teaching as they progressed over the course of a semester. Because it was not practical for the instructor to observe students more than one time a peer observation project was implemented. A review of the literature supported the justification for peer learning. The pilot peer observation project feedback was positive in support of peer learning. The majority of the students stated that one of the most useful parts of the course was the peer observation project. Students not only learned to improve their teaching from the advice of a peer; participating in the assignment resulted in self-reflection on their own teaching skills. The students learned that observing a peer teacher made them aware of teaching strategies and methods that work or do not work and why; and how to constructively give and receive feedback.
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