Lectures in physiology: a three-phase evaluation plan.

The initial phase of a voluntarily implemented multiphasic plan for improving faculty lectures was completed in 1988 and reported in 1989 [Am. J. Physiol. 256 (Adv. Physiol. Educ. 1): S3-S8, 1989]. That phase, conducted by a teaching consultant, included analysis of the teaching practices of each of seven faculty members. Following lecture observations, each faculty member received a written critique of his/her teaching, and individual as well as departmental strengths and weaknesses were identified. In the 1989 follow-up phase, faculty reviewed the feedback provided in their critiques and attended a seminar on developing effective lectures. Each faculty member was again observed during the presentation of a lecture; the same observation instrument was used in the follow-up phase as was used in the initial phase. A comparative analysis of the 1988 and 1989 teaching behaviors was completed for each faculty member and for the whole department. Results indicate that definitive changes had occurred in teaching methods employed since the initiation of the plan. Additional recommendations were made and specific target areas for ongoing improvement were identified.