organizational leadership Archives

Building a Culture of Instructional Innovation: Opportunities and Challenges (Presentation)

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 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. 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. Understanding Faculty Needs: The presentation delved into the fundamental needs of faculty: ongoing development, recognition, rewards, autonomy, and the desire to teach effectively. 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. 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 [...]

Building a Faculty Development Culture of Instructional Innovation: Opportunities and Challenges

rbaltrip-admin2024-03-29T13:34:34+00:00Digital Learning, Education, Learning Innovation|

In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, fostering a culture of continuous innovation is crucial. Encouraging faculty to explore and adopt new instructional approaches is key to enhancing student learning experiences. Yet, institutions often face challenges in successfully engaging faculty in this process. In 2017, while at William & Mary, I presented with Instructional Design Specialist Josh Chung at the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). Our presentation, titled "Building a Faculty Development Culture for Instructional Innovation: Opportunities and Challenges" delved into the complexities surrounding innovation in higher education. We explored motivations, barriers, and strategies for institutions seeking to cultivate a dynamic environment where innovation thrives. Presentation Summary Defining Instructional Innovation: The presentation clarified that instructional innovation encompasses any new or creative approach that aims to enhance students' learning. It can range from small, incremental changes to disruptive shifts and may or may not involve technology. The Context of Innovation: We examined the delicate balance between an institution's teaching mission and an innovation-driven culture. The presentation looked at the issue from both macro (institutional) and micro (individual faculty/student) perspectives. Reasons for Resistance: Despite the potential benefits, faculty can be hesitant to embrace instructional innovation. We highlighted key reasons: limited formal training in teaching, a culture focused primarily on research, and a lack of awareness of available resources. The Importance of Marketing Faculty Development: The presentation stressed that merely providing faculty development options is insufficient. Institutions need to strategically market these opportunities using principles like the 'Enrollment Management Funnel,' tailored messaging, and even mirroring successful models like the pharmaceutical sales representative approach. A Multi-Level Marketing Model: We proposed a marketing model for faculty development that targets three key areas: Individual: Appealing to faculty's intrinsic desire to improve student learning and be part of a progressive environment. Instructional: Focusing on practical benefits, meeting students' needs, and pedagogical effectiveness. [...]