PD Day helped Continuing Education instructors and staff grow their perspectives

Continuing Education Learning in Action: Growing our Perspectives

Building leadership, community and capacity.

That was the theme of Continuing Education’s second annual Professional Development day for CE instructors and staff in February, and the event certainly lived up to its promise. Participants learned about a wide variety of topics ranging from the process of making ethical decisions, to the importance of diversity and inclusion and how to make PowerPoint more effective in the classroom. Learning from each other is powerful, and the fact that the three workshops were facilitated by fellow CE instructors lent a sense of connection and shared experience to the day.

Over 30 instructors and staff from various CE programs attended this engaging one-day event, which culminated in a World Café session based on the motto “we are wiser together than we are alone.”

Facilitated by Dr. Mary Saudelli of UFV Teaching and Learning, participants enjoyed coffee and desserts in the Tuscan bistro style café, exploring pressing topics affecting teaching and learning in CE such as academic integrity, active learning strategies, effective classroom management, Indigenization, community building, and grading. Out of these lively discussions emerged creative ideas for new approaches and tools to support CE’s commitment to continuously improving its programs. Ultimately, the goal of the department and instructors alike is to offer CE’s 4,000+ student registrants the best possible learning experience and help them reach their goals.

It was a full day of learning, sharing expertise and building community. Comments from participants say it all: “Great experience, so glad to be apart of this community”; “loved the day and my mind is full of wonderful ideas”; and “very topical and relevant presentations.” Good food and the opportunity to win a Valentine’s-themed prize added energy and fun to the day.

Participants left the event with a renewed sense of camaraderie and with new tools on hand to help enhance their teaching practice.

“When is the next session?” was the resounding question asked by instructors. Continuing Education manager Susan Francis is already setting the wheels in motion for the next professional development workshop.

“In Continuing Education, we value and strongly promote professional development for our instructors. This year, we focused on having our own instructors present and teach one another. It is very rewarding to see this event build community, and allow our talented instructors and staff team the opportunity to learn, grow and share with one another.”

 

https://www.ufv.ca/continuing-education/

For more information, contact Susan Francis at susan.francis@ufv.ca

02/28/2018