This paper describes a pilot project about how Self-Determination Theory (SDT) was implemented for faculty engagement with a new, 3 year undergraduate medical school curriculum. SDT is a motivational theory of psychological development with premises stating individuals have natural tendencies needing support and fostering for growth and outcomes.…

The paper presents findings from a study that assessed the impact of a faculty development approach designed to improve technology integration specific to a comprehensive FYE program. Partnering with the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and informed by data gathered annually from faculty and student mentors, FYE leaders created a…

A key way that colleges and universities seek to improve student learning is by providing instructional development to faculty. Yet today, the majority of college faculty are non-tenure track, adjunct faculty who have limited access to instructional support, and have traditionally not participated in such teaching improvement efforts when offered.…

There are limited viewpoints in the literature about peer observation of teaching in higher education and how it can be an effective tool to improve the quality of instruction in the classroom (Bell, 2001; Bell, 2005; Bell & Mladenovic, 2008; Brancato, 2003; Chism, 2007; Huston & Weaver, 2008; Shortland, 2004; Shortland, 2010; Smith,…

Purpose: Although annual performance reviews and feedback are recommended for faculty development, best practices and faculty perceptions have not been documented. The authors sought to evaluate the process in one medical school department that established and has sustained an innovative review tradition for 25 years. Method: Content analysis of…

This case study examines how a cognitive apprenticeship was utilized as a faculty development tool to improve instructional design practices in the classroom. Three instructors participated in a cognitive apprenticeship where they were taught how to implement learner-centered instructional strategies into their coursework. The cognitive…

Researchers have long recognized that instructors face distinctive challenges at different career stages. While much work has been done on developing best practices around early career faculty, the literature only pays scant attention to later-career or senior faculty (Sorcinelli, 1999; Zeig and Baldwin, 2013). The most common challenges cited by…

Faculty mentoring is a central component of teaching and learning in the basic and laboratory sciences as well as the clinical and professional disciplines. In this study faculty (1) rated the importance of six core mentoring competencies based on their experience and (2) self-assessed their mentoring competencies. Our goals are to describe and…

Faculty Development (FD) is a vital component across the medical education continuum of undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing medical education. However, the positioning of FD in medical institutions varies widely. The perceptions of faculty on FD should be examined in order to provide effective FD. The perceptions of faculty involved in…

Why do some faculty members use interactive engagement methods and others rely on lecture? Using a cross-disciplinary sample of U.S. faculty members (N = 442), the best predictor of faculty members' self-reported use of these methods was their attitudes about the positive consequences of using interactive engagement methods for students and for…

The literature on leadership competencies does not include an understanding of how stakeholders perceive competencies for women and under-represented minority faculty members. We surveyed three groups of leaders (N = 113) to determine their perceptions of the importance of 23 leadership competencies. All three groups endorsed the same five…

Professional development needs of faculty who are teaching at Tribal Colleges and Universities were examined in this survey research study. The majority of 126 respondents to the online survey reported that they were full-time faculty members, female, not tribal members, and had taught five or less years. Respondents reported that the two greatest…

The role of educational developers has transitioned from the periphery to the centre of the higher education landscape as these practitioners are working to build capacity in teaching and learning. Yet, little is understood about educational developers themselves, and in particular, how learning theories inform their practice. In a qualitative…

Kansas State University designed a 20-month faculty development program with the goal of fostering broad, institution-wide adoption of teaching practices that focus on brain-based learning. Components of the program included annual teaching and learning workshops, reading and discussion groups based on content of a book about how the brain learns…

Communities of practice, which enable sustained collaboration among fellow practitioners, have potential for advancement of faculty development, but traditionally employ face-to-face meetings with inherent economic and geographical limitations. Our virtual community of practice (VCP) model exposes engineering instructors from across the country to…