What is an Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW)?

An Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is a collaboration between facilitators and participants which is grounded in active, experiential learning based on principles of learner-centered instruction.

The Instructional Skills Workshop method was created by the Province of British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Training and Technology and the Center for Curriculum Development.

The ISW has been extensively field-tested since 1978. The educational foundations of the ISW are the Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education developed by Arthur Chickering, Zelda Gamson, and Louis Barsi.

Various community colleges throughout the United States, Canada, Asia, South America, and the Middle East have used this system of feedback on teaching.

Who is an ISW intended for? An ISW is a highly interactive workshop designed specifically for Connecticut Community College teaching professionals. It participants to learn, explore, and practice new methods of teaching and learning. What are the Learning Objectives of an ISW? By the end of an ISW, participants will be able to:

• • Identify instructional objectives that are informative and meaningful to learners.
  • Develop a useful and practical lesson plan.
  • Create student-centered learning opportunities.
  • Expand options for teaching and presenting material.
  • Conduct highly participatory classroom sessions.
  • Use good questioning techniques.
  • Evaluate what has been learned in relation to the performance objectives they have developed.
  • Feel more competent and confident as instructors.

Frequently Asked Questions of an ISW What skills will participants gain? Participants will practice various teaching methods, explore various learning styles and testing methods, and gain insights from instructors in a variety of disciplines. What is required of the participants when attending an ISW? All participants present three, ten -minute teaching lessons. In addition, they will also be a student in other participants’ ten -minute teaching sessions. What is the Facilitator-to-Participant Ratio? There are two facilitators to five participants. Each ISW has a maximum of only five participants. Who can benefit from attending an ISW? ISWs are open to everyone who teaches in our community colleges. Teachers who like to explore and try new methods of teaching and learning in their classroom can benefit from participating in an ISW. What is the time commitment for participants of an ISW? An ISW requires a commitment of 24 hours. The workshop may be held in a variety of configurations: four sessions of six hours, one residential session over a three -day period, or consecutive sessions on consecutive weeks. All participants MUST complete the full 24 hours in order to fulfill the program. Who will know who attends? Confidentiality is assured, giving participants the ability to explore new teaching methods in a safe and protected environment. No information is provided on participants other than that someone has attended. What is the registration fee? All fees and materials are provided by the Center for Teaching and the Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges.