New professional development training options and an innovative digital hub aim to promote efficient, targeted teaching development for York University faculty members.
A comprehensive restructuring of the Teaching Commons at York University has resulted in new and reimagined programming geared to optimally support faculty members in engaged teaching.
“Teaching is the lifeblood of the University, so we want to make sure we bolster engaged teaching in a way that not only helps promote positive classroom experiences and strengthens student retention, but also supports faculty members in feeling empowered in their teaching practices,” says Mandy Frake, director of teaching development in the Teaching Commons.
Overseen by the Office of the Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning, the Teaching Commons is faculty members’ primary source of expert training and resources for teaching that centres the student learning experience. Frake notes that each year, the Commons’ wide range of professional development options are used by around 1,000 faculty members and graduate students.
To help faculty members stay current on evolving pedagogical principles and practices, the Commons is introducing targeted, flexible training options geared to instructors at all stages of their teaching journey. Training includes two new online, self-paced teaching certificate programs in four areas: assessment; artificial intelligence (AI); decolonizing, equity, diversity and inclusion (DEDI); and student engagement. This is in addition to the existing Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW), an intensive three-day internationally recognized certification.
In the Certificate in University Teaching (Essentials), participants take three courses they can complete in about 20 hours. Building on this program is the Certificate in University Teaching (Leadership), an approximately 15-hour commitment that requires taking two additional courses; completing three from the same theme leads to a specialist’s badge. This certificate also involves a capstone project and sharing learning results with the York community.
“These credentials can go a long way to helping new teachers feel comfortable in the classroom, and support more experienced teaching-stream faculty going through promotion and tenure procedures in demonstrating their investment in teaching and learning,” Frake says.
The Commons is also taking a proactive approach to guiding faculty members in navigating generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in higher education. One way is by introducing two certificate programs covering key areas of AI pedagogy, with one focused on essential skills and the other dealing with building AI leadership capacity. Both feature a mix of training formats – courses, workshops, a capstone project and a community contribution component – with the goal of supporting faculty in building a thoughtful, informed approach to teaching in the AI era.
Other ways the Commons is equipping faculty with AI-related teaching expertise is through webinars on topics such as dealing with the impact of AI on plagiarism and academic integrity policies, reconsidering assessment practices in the post-AI classroom, supporting students in building AI literacy and incorporating AI tools into teaching. Taking the lead in creating these and other AI-related professional development options at the Commons has been Robin Sutherland-Harris, an educational developer who co-leads York’s AI community of practice.
“As AI further shapes the higher education landscape and society at large, how well are we preparing students to thrive in the world?” Frake says. “We want to help faculty members critically reflect on whether or how to effectively use AI to enhance their teaching.”
The Teaching Commons is where members of the York teaching community can take training in course design, learn about and participate in a variety of teaching and learning communities of practice, and access resources on subjects such as online and blended learning, flexible teaching and accessible course delivery. The Commons is transitioning its registration and online offerings to YU Learn, York’s employee Learning Management System, where faculty can track their completion of courses.
This month, the Teaching Commons launches a new digital hub that features key resources on course design, assessment, and modes of learning and engagement. The hub will host self-serve materials and information can be accessed by faculty members when needed. The hub, along with these new specialized training options, are part of the Teaching Commons’ commitment to providing critical resources in teaching and learning.
“In rethinking the operation of the Teaching Commons, we have been looking at innovative ways to re-energize our core focus on teaching development opportunities,” says Chloë Brushwood Rose, vice-provost teaching and learning and a professor in the Faculty of Education. “The hope is that we can be a hub for of excellent teaching and learning resources that faculty can easily navigate to find what they need to support their practice.”
With files from Sharon Aschaiek