Instructional Skills Workshops
Among the projects developed through the Center For Teaching has been the implementation of Instructional Skills Workshops, and workshop "facilitator training."
ISW's are intensive, structured, three-day workshops with and for faculty for the practices of effective teaching. The workshops follow a model developed in the 1980's in British Columbia, based on small-group, collegial, peer-assessed teaching. Another way these have been spoken about is that they are "micro-teaching workshops," in which small groups of colleagues share examples of their teaching practices (either new ones on which they are working, or familiar ones they are trying to improve) which then are evaluated by the rest of the group for feedback, encouragement, and improvement.
Each workshop is run by a pair of certified facilitators who have been trained by the ISW organization in the use of this process. Currently, nearly a dozen faculty in the Community College System have been certified as ISW facilitators, and ISW workshops are being scheduled for regular offering over the coming semesters. Some workshops will be held in over-night facilities (retreat settings), while others will be held in various configurations at local college campuses.
Ask about ISW's at QVCC
For 2008-09
Quinebaug's ISW facilitators are Cindi Brassington, and Brian Donohue-Lynch, who will be offering a local ISW workshop in 2008-09. For more information, contact Cindi or Brian at the college.