Abstract Book of the 8th International Academic Conference on Education, Teaching and Learning
Year: 2025
[PDF]
Why a Workshop on Evaluating the Effectiveness and Impact of Faculty Development?
Arianna Marci
ABSTRACT:
This contribution aims to present a proposal for the design of a workshop focused on the evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of Faculty Development (FD) programs and initiatives. The intended audience primarily includes university faculty members, (but potentially also faculty developers) with an emphasis on their active, participatory, and reflective engagement. Grounded in a theoretical and applied framework, the workshop draws upon key evaluation models widely cited in the literature — such as those proposed by Kirkpatrick, Guskey, Stes, and Hines. Participants would be guided through interactive, collaborative activities designed to facilitate the sharing of experiences, the co-construction of evaluative indicators and tools, and the development of a shared framework around core concepts such as “effective teaching,” “effective learning” (as perceived from students’ perspectives), and consequently, “effective Faculty Development”. The adoption of a bottom- up approach should serve to valorize diverse perspectives, while fostering a culture of evaluation that is participatory, systemic, critical, contextualized, and oriented toward continuous improvement. The design and implementation of such a workshop pursue the dual objective of raising awareness regarding the significance of evaluation in FD processes — considering its various impacts — and fostering the value of a dedicated Community of Practice. The workshop methodology would incorporate active and participatory learning strategies, visual facilitation techniques, and digital tools to enhance engagement and co- construction.
Keywords: academic development, active participation, community of practice, faculty training course, university