TSP Learner Objectives

instructor leading class discussion with slideshow

In formulating the objectives for the Teaching Scholars Program, we have made a commitment to integrate an anti-racist/anti-oppressive framing across objectives of the program. This way the program always has that perspective when examining education principles and practices.  We believe in this approach rather than treating racism and oppression as separate topics since they influence all that we do as educators.  Sessions focus on learning theory, curriculum development, education scholarship, education leadership and career development and they will have readings and discussions that assure that participants reflect on how anti-racism/anti-oppression are incorporated into their practices.

The topics and objectives are:

Learning theory is foundational to providing a quality education. We will discuss a range of learning theories, including behavioral, cognitive, sociocultural, and critical.

TSP participants will:

  • Describe various learning theories and consider the historical and social context of these theories
  • Analyze how these learning theories relate to design of curriculum and educational activities
  • Evaluate the research evidence related to different learning theories and their impact on education
    Curriculum is the structure through which we deliver educational content to learners. An anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens influences the approach to curriculum development by centering on learners and their capacity to thrive. Educators must create a respectful and welcoming learning environment and select pedagogical approaches that allow all learners to participate and thrive. We will draw from Universal Design for Learning and critical pedagogy.

    TSP participants will:

    • Analyze the processes involved in curriculum development including how to decide what to include, how to select learning strategies, how to assess learners employing an anti-deficit framing, and how to evaluate curricula in a way that includes various stakeholders   
    • Identify different curricular models used in health professions education
    • Employ various teaching methods appropriately matched to the learners and to the knowledge, attitudes and skills to be taught, drawing from the Universal design for Learning and Critical Pedagogy frameworks
    • Analyze the relationship between learning theory and teaching
    • Create an inclusive learning environment
    • Examine teaching strategies to determine if they are built on best practices, inclusive, and aligned with trauma informed education
    • Analyze the successful use of technology to enhance learning
    • Develop expertise in giving feedback that is sensitive to each individual
    • Analyze the relationship between accreditation and curriculum
    • Demonstrate ability to interpret reliability and validity of measures
    • Examine assessments and their implementation for bias
    • Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of various assessment strategies
    • Design a program evaluation
      Education leadership Education leadership is evolving to ensure leading in an anti-racist and anti-oppressive way that ensures the ability to lead across differences and implement change to address the needs of today’s learners.

      TSP participants will: 

      • Examine different lenses for leadership
      • Analyze the roles and expectations for educational leadership
      • Develop awareness of one’s own leadership skills and how they affect leading others
      • Devise a strategy for leading change
      • Analyze the role of mentors in career development
      • Plan one's own career development
      • Explore educational leadership opportunities within and outside the university
        Education scholarship advances our understanding of educational processes, learners’ and educators’ experiences, and outcomes of educational programs and interventions. In TSP we will cover a range of approaches to education scholarship, including critical and participatory approaches.

        TSP participants will:

        • Apply frameworks, methods, and skills covered in TSP to the design and implementation of a scholarly education project
        • Explain the importance of positionality when examining researcher bias and the need for reflexivity when conducting educational scholarship
        • Discuss the strengths and limitations of various research approaches
        • Select conceptual frameworks, study designs/approaches, and methods that align with research questions
        • Devise an analytical plan for an educational study
        • Develop skills in educational research sufficient to propose, critically appraise, and discuss education research studies
        • Provide reinforcing and constructive feedback on education abstracts