SCHOLARSHIP OF PEDAGOGY AND APPLICATION OF RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE - ENGINEERING (SPARK-ENG)

The SPARK-ENG program aims to enhance effective instructional practice, classroom interactions, assessment and understanding of Graduate Attributes for faculty members and instructors in the Faculty of Engineering.

Based on the foundation of situated learning and framework of building communities of practice, the program promotes active participation, collaboration and reflection across the career-span. It is grounded in evidence-based approaches in higher education and STEM education.

Program Objectives

• Enhance teaching in undergraduate engineering through evidence-based practices
• To teach towards the development of graduate attributes
• To develop learner-centred instructional strategies for knowledge, skills and attitudes
• To showcase examples of exceptional local teaching
• To foster communities of scholars in teaching and learning for engineering education

Structure

The program consists of 12 modules organized into four themes, delivered over two consecutive academic years during the fall and winter academic terms (September - November & January - March). Each module includes activities over four weeks of each month, and will require a time commitment from the participants of up to three hours each week. Each month is further divided into a first week workshop to introduce module content, weeks 2-3 to develop and implement workplace learning activities and the final week sharing of these experiences with the cohort in a community of practice meeting.

The program is led by an Instructional Coach that will support participants in their instructional practice by hosting in-person workshops, observing and providing feedback on classroom practice, collecting workplace learning tasks and facilitating the in-person community of practice meetings.

TERM	THEME	MODULE
1	Philosophy of Teaching and Learning	Nature of Learners
		Nature of Learning
		EDI for Teaching
2	Fostering Learning Opportunities	Interactive Lectures
		Classroom Discourse
		Empowering Students to Learn
3	Designing Courses for Learning	Problem-Based Learning
		Team-Based Learning
		Assessment Practices
4	Scholarship of Teaching and Learning	Researching Educational Practices in Education
		Professional Learning Communities
		Forming an Identity as an Educator

Learning

Each module includes:

• Online self-paced learning (readings, video content, reflection questions) delivered via eClass
• An in-person introductory workshop hosted by the instructional coach
• Opportunities to implement instructional strategies while teaching also known as the workplace learning task
• A summative in-person community of practice meeting to discuss reflections and learning with colleagues

Participants will be placed into small group cohorts (8-10 participants), with a mix of discipline and levels of experience, and will have access to an experienced SPARK-ENG Instructional Coach throughout their time in the program.

Audience

The program is open to all faculty members and Academic Teaching Staff (ATS) including early-career as well as those who are more experienced, but interested in developing their teaching practice. As the program is structured around the implementation of new techniques and strategies, as well as reflection on their effectiveness, it is strongly recommended that participants are teaching at least one class during each term of the program.

Registration

New SPARK-Eng cohorts begin in the fall and winter terms, email us (sparkeng@ualberta.ca) for more information and to register.

Contact Us

Duncan Buchanan - Instructional Coach SPARK-ENG
dbuchana@ualberta.ca
ETLC 6-011

General Email
sparkeng@ualberta.ca