BUILDING COMMUNITY

Commitment to individual change can begin with commitment to the college community.

Grassroots model – The ISW begins on a small scale and builds slowly, allowing it to evolve in ways most appropriate to each institution. Its small beginnings counter possible faculty resistance; as the program grows, so does faculty trust.

Collaborative learning – In the ISW, teachers help teachers, with colleagues facilitating, not teaching each other. This fosters an increased respect for colleagues as professionals, and encourages delineating shared goals for improving teaching and learning.

Team building – The ISW begins with a small team of facilitators and trainers. It advocates offering Workshops for interdisciplinary groups, enhancing cross-campus relationships. The small Workshop format and sense of belonging to an important development can break down the impersonality of the institution and increase the sense of being an integral part of the institution.

INITIATING AN ONGOING PROGRAM

The Instructional Skills Workshop can be one step in implementing a series of activities for the improvement of teaching and learning. Consider:

• Small Group Instructional Feedback (SGIF) – At the instructor’s request, and with prior consultation, a facilitator solicits students’ feedback in the classroom through the use of small group discussion and consensus building. The facilitator then shares the results with the instructor, who is encouraged to report back to the students on his or her responses and adjustments.