Educational development, which the authors use to refer to the field of professional and strategic development associated with university and college learning and teaching, can be described in many ways by referring to its different aspects. In this article the authors endeavor to categorize many of the models that have been used to describe…

Most educational developers can tell a story of a moment when they stood in the breach between their enthusiasm for an educational concept and their ability to communicate that concept in a way that seemed meaningful to a colleague whose expertise was in a field other than teaching and learning. These are defining moments in articulating the heart…

Faculty development units have been in existence in North American universities and colleges for more than forty years. The early faculty development units were typically led by a committee or a part-time director who focused on presenting teaching tips in short workshops. Over the years, the role of these centers gradually evolved as they became…

In this article, the authors convey what scholarship of teaching and learning is and is not, and how educational developers can and do engage in such scholarship to grow as individual providers, units, and academic institutions seeking to continue improving teaching and learning. Further, the advancement of effective teaching techniques, expansion…

The concept of development is a value-loaded term. In whatever context it is used--child development or economic development, for example--the term "development" implies something more than simply change. It implies moving toward an approved goal, toward something that is valued. So to understand educational development there is a need to explore…

If one looks at the current literature and practice of faculty development through various lenses, one thing remains clear: there are voices that are missing from the discourse. In this article, the authors discuss "unheard voices" which they define as those who are still on the margins of the profession--faculty developers who are diverse in…

Programs falling under the general rubric of "experiential education" take a number of forms, varying on several dimensions; what is offered here is a schematic overview. In general, they all involve students in activities that look rather different from more traditional classroom-based methods: (1) the formal lecture and discussion; (2) the…

Community-Based Learning and Research (CBLR) provides opportunities for institutions of higher education to achieve their goals of educating students, advancing teaching and scholarship, and meeting real needs of under-resourced communities and nonprofit organizations. By providing successful examples of campus and community partnership, this…

Institutions are increasingly interested in internationalizing campuses. According to the International Association of Universities, seventy-three percent of members believe that internationalization of their campuses is "very much" a priority at their institution. This article provides models that use both structural and curricular methods to…

The pedagogy of performing arts courses in theatre, film, music, and dance programs found in most liberal arts curricula is clearly experiential insofar as the making of art involves active engagement in classroom activities or events that are staged or filmed. But because many educators outside the arts perceive performing arts programs as solely…

The dominant method of providing formal knowledge to students in education in North America is through classroom training. The focus of this effort is on the delivery of a broad range of conceptual knowledge and skills in various liberal and professional fields of endeavor. Besides classroom instruction, the other predominant mode is through…

Intrinsic to experiential learning is the challenge of empowering students to both reflectively engage with and inquire into ethical issues, while facing time, task, social, and other daily pressures. As designated "learners" in a professional setting, experiential education students typically see themselves as having little authority within the…

Assessment of student learning is the systematic gathering of information about student learning and the factors that affect learning, undertaken with the resources, time and expertise available, for the purpose of improving learning. In assessment, there are no conclusions, just ongoing questions that the data raise about learning and the process…

While numerous professors and administrators can agree upon the benefits of infusing the curriculum with experiential learning, a commonly stated obstacle to widespread curricular reform is funding. Specifically, given that external institutional support can be difficult to procure, especially in uncertain economic times, institutions might…

In response to the growing calls for accountability in higher education, accreditation associations are requiring institutions to develop strategic plans designed to enhance student learning. This requirement can be recast as a unique opportunity to promote institution-wide introspection and collaboration. Such a plan can foster an open dialogue…