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Instructional Skills Workshop

The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is an intensive multi-day workshop that’s offered in a small group setting (4-5 peers) and is designed to enhance teaching effectiveness. Participants design and deliver three lessons and receive verbal, written, and video feedback from their peers who have been learners in the lessons.

Lessons are 10 minutes in length and can be either in the area of expertise of the participant or an area of interest broadly. Using an intensive experiential learning approach, participants are provided with information on the theory and practice of teaching adult learners, the selection and writing of intended learning outcomes with accompanying lesson plans, techniques for eliciting learner participation, and suggestions for evaluating learning. Reflection and examination of one’s teaching practices are encouraged.

Each participant must prepare and present three lessons and provide feedback to every member of their small group in a timely fashion to receive their Instructional Skills Workshop certificate.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants should be able to:

  • Construct intended learning outcomes (ILOs) that are specific, measurable, and action-oriented,
  • Incorporate active learning strategies into lessons,
  • Plan lessons using the BOPPPS model of lesson planning,
  • Deliver lessons using the BOPPPS model,
  • Collect feedback from learners about lesson delivery,
  • Utilize feedback from learners to improve lesson delivery, and
  • Provide valuable and considerate constructive feedback on others’ lessons.

Format

Participants will attend large group sessions and then will break into smaller subgroups to prepare and present three different lessons. During each of the lessons, you will: set daily goals for yourself, deliver a 10-minute lesson, receive feedback on your lesson from your peers, and provide your peers with feedback on their lessons. Opportunity to reflect on how you could improve upon your lessons will be provided. Feedback will be provided in a safe and encouraging environment where all are learning in the process.

Assessments

Completion of the workshop is assessed on a Pass or Fail basis. To pass, you must satisfactorily do the following:

  • Attend all sessions in full,
  • Plan and deliver three 10-minute lessons using the BOPPPS model of lesson planning,
  • Utilize feedback to brainstorm how you would improve upon your lessons, and
  • Provide valuable and considerate constructive feedback on others’ lessons.

There are no upcoming dates confirmed for this workshop. If you are interested in being notified when dates become available, please email Emily Hynes (hynese@mcmaster.ca) to be added to a waitlist.

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Learn More

The case for Instructional Skills Workshops and teaching development explored in an article on University Affairs.