University of Guelph COED 2009 Update

From OUCEL Wiki

The Educational Development Unit at the University of Guelph creates opportunities for on-going development of educator-related knowledge, skills and attitudes by providing instructional design expertise, access to pedagogical theories and models as well as peer interactions. Our Educational Development Unit is managed by Peter Wolf and includes Natasha Kenny, Mary Wilson and Janet Wolstenholme. Peter Wolf is currently on-leave and the Unit’s activities are being managed by the Director of TSS, Dr. Fred Evers.

ED Unit Highlights for 2008-2009:

• Over 900 faculty, TA's, and other educators attended over 100 workshops, conferences and other educational development unit events.

• Combined publications included 6 articles submitted or published in peer-reviewed journals and engagement in 3 on-going research projects.

• Facilitated over 70 individual and departmental consultations with faculty, TA's, and other educators on course design, delivery and assessment.

• 40 curriculum course progression maps have been created and distributed to departments and colleges.

• 8 new undergraduate degree curriculum review and development projects have been added to the 16 projects initiated and carrying over since our last update.

• 5 external presentations were given by ED Unit staff at academic conferences or as invited speakers.

• 2 graduate credit courses were taught.

• Piloted the use of our on-line curriculum mapping software off-campus with the University of Waterloo. Additional off-campus beta testing is pending.

• Graduate Student Teaching Development Passport Program initiated.

• Faculty Leadership in Teaching Program Pilot initiated (SoTL development program).

Challenges:

• to continue to respond to the challenge of providing interdisciplinary and discipline-specific graduate student pedagogical development

• satisfying increased range of and demand for support from faculty with reduced staffing during Peter Wolf’s leave

• competition for space on campus is currently very high and it is often difficult to locate and secure suitable rooms for our events

Goals:

• We are continuing to forge and formalize a team approach with our colleagues in TSS's Learning Technologies and Classroom Innovations group to support faculties in taking full advantage of educational technologies in course design.

• We are working at finding capacity and efficiencies internally to respond to increased demand for our support of curriculum and instructional development.