Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW)

The Instructional Skills Workshop covers competency-based instruction, experiential learning, growth-producing feedback and reflective practices.

Students engaging in group activity.
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    Duration

    • 3 days

  • icon graduate

    Time commitment

    • 24 hours in class time + 6-8 hours preparation time outside of class

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    Format

    • In-person
    • Learner-led

  • icon counselling

    Audience

    • Sessional instructors

On this page:

Important dates

The next ISW offering will be from Tuesday, November 12 - Thursday, November 14, 2024.

Program description

  • The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) was developed in British Columbia in the late 1970s. Since then, the program has grown extensively and is offered by many universities and colleges across Canada, the United States, and around the world. 

    The ISW uses an intensive experiential learning approach in a collaborative small group setting. The overall purpose is to enhance the teaching effectiveness, competence, and confidence of both new and experienced educators. It also aims to provide resources to assist individuals to become more reflective teaching practitioners.

    To learn more about the ISW, please check Instructional Skills Workshop Network.

  • Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) Logo

What to expect

In a supportive environment, participants will:

  • Design and deliver three “mini-lessons” on a topic of your choice.
  • Try new teaching approaches and sharpen existing skills.
  • Give and receive constructive verbal and written feedback from your peers.
  • Receive video recordings of each “mini-lesson”.
  • Reflect on your teaching.
  • Participate in sessions on a variety of teaching and learning topics led by the ISW facilitators.
  • Connect with an interdisciplinary cohort of peers.

Participants of the ISW will receive a Certificate of Completion from The Centre.

Participation

Participants will be from a variety of disciplines across the University of Manitoba (U of M). The success of the ISW relies on active participation and collaboration of all participants who, as a team, work together to support each other in enhancing their teaching effectiveness.

Please note: It is critical for the success of the ISW that each participant commit fully to the three days and prepare the required work each evening for the next day. It is strongly recommended participants try not to conduct regular university business during the duration of the ISW.

Registration

The ISW is for Sessional Instructors currently teaching at the U of M.

We typically offer two ISW sessions in the year during spring and fall reading weeks. Each session accommodates 10 participants. 

Rather than an open registration, The Centre invites Departments/Faculties to nominate one Sessional Instructor for the ISW. A random draw will then be used to select the participants.

Please note: As the collective agreement requires that Sessional Instructors be paid for their time participating in the ISW, the Centre has partnered with the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) to make funds available to cover these costs. The Department/Faculty will pay the Sessional Instructor and receive reimbursement from the provost office. Further questions regarding payment should be directed to: Michael Sheldon, Budget Office, Michael.Sheldon@umanitoba.ca.   

Contact us

The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning
65 Dafoe Road, Winnipeg, MB
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

thecentrecontactus@umanitoba.ca
204-474-8708
204-474-7514