Designing for Change: Engaging Faculty Through a Blended Certificate in University Teaching Program

Abstract

A key role of teaching and learning centres at postsecondary education institutions is to provide professional development for faculty and staff . A challenge for teaching and learning centre staff is to design, develop, and deliver professional development programs that are engaging and relevant to participants. This Report of Practice describes how two programs-a Certifi cate in University Teaching for faculty and staff and a parallel Certifi cate in University Teaching for Teaching Assistants-were developed and delivered. Factors that led to their success are also discussed. The use of a constructivist approach to teaching and learning, coupled with a blended design for course delivery and a fl exible approach to the application of learning RésuméUn des rôles essentiels des centres d'enseignement et d'apprentissage des établisse-ments d'éducation postsecondaires est de proposer le perfectionnement professionnel de son personnel et de son corps enseignant. Le défi auquel font face les membres du personnel de centres d'enseignement et d'apprentissage est d'imaginer, de créer, puis de diff user des programmes de perfectionnement professionnel qui soient stimulants et appropriés pour les participants. Le présent rapport de pratique décrit comment deux programmes ont été créés puis diff usés : un certifi cat en enseignement universitaire pour corps enseignant et membres du personnel, et un certifi cat en enseignement universitaire pour professeurs adjoints. On y 1 Report of Practice / Rapport de pratique JPCOE JFPPEL J P C O E , V o l 2 . 1 , 2 0 1 6 J F P P E L , V o l 2 . 1 , 2 0 1 6 J P C O E . n e t R e p o r t o f P r a c t i c e D e s i g n i n g f o r C h a n g e 2 Keywords: blended design, constructivist approach, Certifi cate in University Teaching (CUT) Certifi cate in University Teaching for Teaching Assistants (CUT-TA), learning outcomes Like many universities, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology's (UOIT) Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) has off ered a certifi cate program for instructors and teaching assistants (TAs) focused on providing skills and knowledge in the area of postsecondary teaching. Previously the program had taken the form of a series of workshops, with participants completing a required number to obtain a certifi cate of completion. Various elements have been added to or removed from the program over the years, including classroom observations, written refl ections, and presentations. While many useful topics were addressed, there were challenges with scheduling and retention of participants and little evidence of deeper learning or development of teaching practice.When redesigning the teaching certifi cate, facilitators set out to create a program that encompassed a cohesive, in-depth, and (ideally) transformative learning experience that was tailored to fi t the busy schedules and myriad obligations of faculty and TAs. The desire to create a learner-centred community of practice around teaching provided an overall motivation for the program and served as a gui...