Cortlan Report of Classroom Observation Dr. Michael Tillotson ‘AAS 100 Introduction to Africana Studies Monday, November 29, 2021 Dowd Fine Arts Center, Room 0207 11:30 am (50-minutes) Conducted by Dr. Paul van der Veur I found Dr. Michael Tillotson’s teaching to be effective. My observation was conducted during the fourteenth week of the semester. Students were well acquainted with Dr. Tillotson’s teaching style and methods of instruction. Dr. Tillotson appeared well prepared. The pedagogical approaches were appropriate to the course content Class was conducted in a standard ‘smart’ classroom in Dowd. The course, Introduction to Africana Studies, fulfills the SUNY General Education_07 (Humanities). In addition, ten of the students are fulfilling their Writing Intensive requirement. This was one of two sections of the course being offered in the department during the Fall semester. Enrollment in the course was 30 students (this is the maximum for this teaching space). Dr. Tillotson had prepared classroom prior to my arrival at 11:26. Tillotson’s PowerPoint presentation was visible to the students and included the title of the presentation. Promptly at 11:30, Tillotson entered the classroom and greeted the students, welcoming them back from their Thanksgiving break. Twenty-five of the students were in attendance. In his lecture, Tillotson began by briefly recapping the content from the previous lecture. He called on one of the students to answer a question related to that previous lecture. He accepted the student's response and reinforced that answer with additional content. Over the course of the next hour, Tillotson repeated this practice, calling on several students by name to answer questions, then affirming and extending their responses. Students were, for the most part, engaged with the content and maintained focus throughout the lecture. As noted above, Dr. Tillotson knows his students’ names and students knew what information was essential for them to retain. Tillotson often repeated key elements several times, verbally reinforcing the content while allowing students to take notes. Key elements ‘were also reinforced through effective use of PowerPoint, overhead projection (book passages, readings, and documents), and video. Throughout the class period, the instructor moved around the classroom and maintained appropriate eye contact with the students. The syllabus provided to students appears thoughtful and well-organized. Students received the necessary information regarding course expectations and directions for classroom participation. One area that needs refinement relates to the inclusion of Student Learning Outcomes. While course learning objectives are listed for the course itself, the outcomes for “General Education 07; Humanities” are not listed. Requirements for those students taking the course for Writing Intensive credit are also not present, | note that thisiis Dr. Tillotson's first Moffett Center, Room 202-C # P.O, Box 2000 « Cortland, NY 13045-0900 Phone: (607) 753-4105 « Fax: (607) 753-5760semester at SUNY Cortland. These requirements may not have been effectively communicated to him. As noted above, | found Dr. Michael Tillotson’s teaching to be effective. He hada clear plan of what he wanted students to learn, told students what would be expected of them, presented material in an accessible manner, and reinforced the message though inclusion of multiple ae of communication. He expressed both his knowledge of and passion for the subject of his lectu