Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW)
About ISW
The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is an instructor development program designed to enhance the teaching effectiveness of both new and experienced educators.
“I transitioned from worrying about (being) an authority at the front of the class. The workshop … helped me let go of this anxiety about authority… after that, I just started teaching, teaching, teaching.”
ISW participant quoted in HEQCO report (2014).
“I didn’t realize how many little techniques we can use to get people involved, and certainly we got a list of all the activities we can do... something as simple as that think, pair, share. I probably didn’t even use until I took the workshop, and I use that in my class all the time now.”
testimonial from ISW participant
The ISW engenders participatory learning and the building of community that can transfer back into the classroom and the institution. Added benefits are a sense of collegiality, team building, self-discovery, and learning new approaches to working with others.
The ISW encourages reflection and examination of one’s teaching practices with feedback focused on the learning process rather than on the specific lesson.
Workshop Outcomes
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Learn theory of adult learners.
- Write learning objectives
- Develop lesson plans,
- Practice techniques for eliciting learner participation,
- Explore different learning evaluations,
- Receive Feedback on their instruction
Nature of the Workshop
During the 4-day workshop, participants design and conduct three “mini-lessons” and receive verbal, written and video feedback from the other participants who have been learners in the mini-lessons. The Teaching and Learning Commons delivers ISW workshops in-person, blended and synchronous online formats.
How to Register
The ISW is delivered each semester by the Teaching and Learning Commons. Please visit TL Events for more information and to register.
Interested to Waitlist
If you are interested to wait list for an ISW workshop, please register here. Once you are waitlisted, we will contact you when an ISW course is scheduled during a future semester and if you are available, we will register you for the course.
