This is a very important point.
Teaching involves whatever facilitates learning.
Some of our most influential teaching goes on in the hallway, in the office conference, through individual e-mail exchanges, and over coffee at Rockies or at the Daily Grind. The relationship-building we do is particularly valuable to the student who feels disconnected from the university and questions whether or not this is the right place for her. Our lead professors working in those schools spend time cultivating relationships with principals and staff, contributing to staff development, and participating in curriculum development as well as supervising teacher candidates. We define teaching in such a way that it includes all of those functions, and we evaluate them through a focus group of partner-school staff who discuss the contribution of the lead professor to the work of the partnership.