Instructional Skills Workshop

Summary

The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is an internationally recognized program designed to enhance the teaching effectiveness of new and experienced instructors through intensive and practical exercises in learning-centered teaching.

Description 

During the workshop, participants design and deliver three 10-minute lessons and receive supportive feedback from their peers. Participants are provided with information on the theory and practice of teaching adult learners, writing learning outcomes with accompanying lesson plans, techniques for encouraging active learning, and suggestions for evaluation of learning, and engage in reflective practice.

Learning outcomes

• Plan and teach three 10-minute lessons.
• Employ active learning strategies aligned with learning outcomes.
• Reflect on your teaching.
• Offer constructive written and verbal feedback to peers.
• Participate in and contribute to group sessions on pedagogical best practices.
• Maintain confidentiality of group processes to encourage a supportive workshop environment. 

What to expect 

This is a workshop that has homework each night in preparation for the next lesson. It is a rewarding and transformative learning experience that will enhance your teaching and build connections with your peers. 

Completion Requirements

Participants who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion that may be applied as credit to the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program. 

Quotes From Past Participants

“As researchers, we get feedback on our work all the time—you submit an article to peer reviewed journals and you accept that getting feedback is an important part of the process. But we don’t get feedback opportunities in our teaching. The peer feedback I received during the ISW helped me uncover areas where my assumptions about what students did or didn’t know were hindering their learning. I didn’t completely abandon my teaching style, but I was able to make small changes that had big impacts for my students. In fact, after over twenty years of teaching, I had my best ever teaching evaluations after taking it.”

Jonathan Driver, archaeology professor emeritus and former Provost

"The ISW challenged me to question how I teach and engage with students. The exercises where we were asked to do these 10-minute learning modules and present them to our peers gave me invaluable feedback that helped me refresh my teaching."

Peter Keller, geography professor and also former Provost

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