Revising the Mentor-Mentee Observation Process in UniPa’s Mentor Program: A Proposal for a Standardized Observation Form

Abstract

This paper presents the revision process of the observation form used in the University of Palermo’s “Mentore per la Didattica” program, a peer-mentoring initiative aimed at improving university teaching. The program emphasizes mutual observation and collaboration between faculty members, with mentors and mentees engaged in reciprocal learning and feedback. Recognizing the need for a more effective and user-friendly tool, the authors developed a new standardized observation form. The redesign was guided by a constructivist and intercultural approach, enabling a comprehensive evaluation of teaching practices while fostering reflection and professional growth. The revised form includes clear and well-distributed items, a mix of structured and open responses, enhanced demographic data collection, and a four-point Likert scale to quantify teaching dimensions such as time management, communication, methodology, interaction, and student engagement. It also serves as a self-evaluation tool, encouraging reflective practice. The new form is currently in trial across the program and will inform a planned digital platform for data collection and analysis. The initiative aims to support continuous improvement in teaching and mentoring, offering a model for faculty development in higher education.