In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, fostering a culture of continuous innovation – embracing new ways to enhance the learning experience – is a top priority for many institutions. However, motivating faculty to explore and implement new teaching approaches can be a significant challenge. In 2017, while at William & Mary, I presented at the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). My presentation titled “Building a Culture of Instructional Innovation: Opportunities and Challenges” aimed to ignite a conversation on how institutions can best support and inspire faculty to embrace innovation in their teaching.
Presentation Summary
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The Context of Innovation: My presentation explored the interplay between an institution’s mission focused on high-quality teaching and a broader culture embracing innovation. It highlighted the need for alignment between these two objectives.
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Defining Instructional Innovation: To frame the discussion, I clarified that instructional innovation encompasses any new or creative approach that aims to enhance students’ learning. Such innovation can be small-scale, large-scale, and may or may not involve technology.
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Understanding Faculty Needs: The presentation delved into the fundamental needs of faculty: ongoing development, recognition, rewards, autonomy, and the desire to teach effectively.
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Motivating Faculty: I highlighted both common incentives (promotion opportunities, compensation, release time) as well as often overlooked intrinsic motivators, such as the desire to improve student learning and a sense of belonging to an innovative institution.
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Barriers to Innovation: A significant portion of the presentation focused on real-world obstacles that commonly hinder faculty’s adoption of new teaching methods:
- Negative Perceptions: Skepticism towards the effectiveness of new approaches and the training needed to implement them.
- Lack of Motivation: Even when extensive resources are available, faculty (especially junior faculty focused on tenure) may not prioritize innovation.
- Time Constraints: Limited time to explore and implement new strategies.
- Workload Concerns: The additional work required may be a deterrent, especially when development time is seen as a significant barrier.
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The Need for Further Research: The presentation concluded by calling for more data on the effectiveness of various instructional innovations. It emphasized both qualitative and quantitative studies to compare the experiences of innovative versus non-innovative faculty, and to delve into the impact of a single innovation using a micro-level analysis.
Key Takeaways
The presentation underscored the following insights:
- Understanding Faculty Motivations: To foster an innovative culture, institutions must grasp what truly motivates faculty and tailor support accordingly.
- Building a Support System: Effective faculty development programs are crucial for demonstrating new strategies, providing guidance, and addressing faculty concerns.
- Institutional Culture is Key: A culture that values and rewards instructional innovation is essential, moving beyond simply providing resources.
Continuing the Conversation
Building a culture of instructional innovation demands strategic, well-informed approaches. By understanding the challenges, investing in faculty development, and fostering a supportive environment, institutions can empower faculty to continually seek new and effective ways to enhance student learning.
