Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL)
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning is a growing movement in post-secondary education. SOTL is a scholarly inquiry into student learning which advances the practice of teaching by making research findings public.
SOTL builds on many past traditions in higher education, including classroom and program assessment, K-12 action research, the reflective practice movement, peer review of teaching, traditional educational research, and faculty development efforts to enhance teaching and learning. Terms closely related to the scholarship of teaching and learning are good teaching (that which promotes student learning and desired outcomes and is recognized by student satisfaction, peer review, etc.) and scholarly teaching (in which teaching is regarded as an area of study and the teaching and learning knowledge base is regarded as an additional discipline in which to develop expertise).
Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW)
In-person workshop
The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is an internationally recognized program that provides participants with opportunities to explore their teaching practice through experiential learning. This workshop is designed for new and experienced educators alike. As part of the ISW process, participants deliver mini-lessons and receive peer feedback from fellow participants. In this model, feedback relates directly to the learning experiences of participants and is not formally evaluated. The ISW is a unique opportunity to explore several aspects of teaching, from designing lesson plans, developing assessment devices, managing time, managing group process to experimenting with new approaches, all with the support and feedback of colleagues, and with the guidance of experienced UFV facilitators.
If you are looking for experience in developing and delivering engaging and participatory lessons and want to test-drive new ideas, then ISW is for you.
Upcoming:
- February 18-21, 2025, Abbotsford campus
Sign up today for one of our upcoming ISW offerings.
Workshop request form
Facilitator Development Workshop (FDW)
In-person workshop
The Facilitator Development Workshop (FDW) is the second level of training within the Instructional Skills Workshop program. Building on ISW experiences around teaching effectiveness, the FDW offers participants the opportunity to build facilitation skills within the ISW context. Participants deliver mini-lessons and receive peer-feedback but also manage the feedback process. This experiential learning approach provides space to learn new facilitation approaches and receive feedback from colleagues.
Unlike the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW), which is a developmental and completion only workshop, the Facilitator Development Workshop (FDW) is a competency-based certification workshop. Individuals who wish to be certified in an FDW must first complete an ISW. Following that, the steps that participants who wish to become ISW Facilitators are required to complete for certification may vary but will be communicated to participants. Certification requirements depend on:
- The prior experience of the participant, and
- The FDW Training Team's assessment of the performance of the participant during the FDW with respect to:
- Appropriate facilitation knowledge and skills
- Ability to demonstrate and genuinely communicate to ISW participants the values and principles inherent to the ISW approach to professional development.
Following completion of the FDW, the Trainers will provide the supporting institution details of the completion requirements for each participant. Completion of these requirements is a necessary step in participant registration with the ISW Network.
For more information on the ISW and FDW, please reach out to claire.hay@ufv.ca.
To express your interest in an upcoming workshop, please email tlcevents@ufv.ca.
Upcoming workshops:
- April 7-11, 2025, Chilliwack campus
- June 23-27, 2025, Abbotsford campus
Workshop request form
Trainer Development Workshop (TDW)
In-person workshop
The Trainer Development Workshop (TDW) is the third and final level of training within the Instructional Skills Workshop program. Successful completion of the TDW provides participants with the tools to offer FDW sessions at their own institutions as an FDW Facilitator. Using an apprentice model, TDW participants assist the trainer in all aspects of FDW delivery, receive feedback from FDW participants and trainer, and engage in reflective practice.
Completion of the FDW and experience with delivering ISW sessions is a requirement for participation in the TDW.
Please reach out to tlcevents@ufv.ca to inquire about TDW opportunities at UFV.
Workshop request form
