2013 Fall Meeting Notes

Group Discussion Notes

Below are some thoughts that emerged from our group discussions at our November 22, 2013 meeting.

What is Educational Development?

• Knowing what you know, what you don’t know, and what to do about it
• Helps people get started
• Introduces new methods and tools
• Network brokers
• Showcase and support others
• Educating chairs/deans to recognize educational development
• Identifying gaps in practice
• Use of evidence of learning outcomes

Why do it?

• You care about student learning
• Long career
• Motivation
• Efficacy/confidence
• Rewards (tenure, promotion, etc.)
• Self-preservation
• Efficiency
• Reduce anxiety
• Pride in one’s work/recognition
• Expectation/accountability/mandate)
• Sense of belonging (community, etc.)
• Feeling of contribution
• Autonomy/mastery/contentedness
• Paying it forward

Where does it happen?

• Formal training/programs (grad, TA, continuing…)
• Alone (reflection)
• Dept. meeting/reviews/retreats/curriculum planning
• Networks (both informal and formal)
• Reading, writing, and talking
• Professional/disciplinary updating
• Sabbatical
• Mentoring/coaching/informal one-on-one relationships
• Classroom-practical research and inquiry
• Lunch chats
• Book clubs/reading groups
• Senate committees
• Multi-section meetings
• Sitting on grant or T&L committees
• Discipline-specific workshops
• Community of practice within centre

How does it occur?

• There are many stakeholders – faculty developers are not the sole source
• Consider standards of practice in professions – what can we learn from these (pros/cons)?
• Challenge assumptions
• What (critical/creative) questions do I ask about my practice?
• Culture of “risk-taking”/timing of “risk-taking”
• Individual/collective or collaborative opportunities
• Moving beyond comfort zone/discipline areas
• Learning outcomes consultations
• Showcasing good teachers
• Individual consultations
• Grants within centre
• Workshop attendance
• Course attendance
• Peer observations
• Mentoring a GA or TA
• Mentoring colleagues
• LMS or IT training
• Undergraduate research
• Changing design of course
• Policy development
• Partnering with industry (service/community learning)
• Reading literature
• Co-teaching
• Viewing TED talks/videos
• Reading student comments at end of semester, and finding ways to utilize the feedback
• Listserv participation
• Publication or presentation related to T&L
• Researching content for a course
• Rewarding/recognizing/valuing good teaching
• Engaging in SOTL