Faculty Learning Program (FLP)

The Faculty Learning Program (FLP) is designed to introduce new full time faculty members to their roles at Algonquin College. It focuses on advanced teaching theories and skills, building a community of practice with other faculty and contributing to teaching excellence at Algonquin College. The program runs over two semesters in two courses and culminates in participants creating and sharing an original contribution to teaching for their peers and the larger college community.

Courses

FLP0001: Advancing Your Instructional Techniques

Faculty development is an integral part of being a full-time professor at Algonquin College, and consists of formal pedagogical training, informal peer networking, learning about college services and contributing to teaching excellence at the college. Throughout this course, learners journey through a holistic teacher development framework that starts with ‘self as teacher’ and works outwards to explore how students learn, the mechanics of teaching in a classroom, the college community and finally the field of higher education. As they work through the framework, learners apply advanced instructional techniques rooted in contemporary andragogy to their teaching practice, reflect on teaching challenges and successes with peers, design quality learning experiences and discuss essential college services and resources that intersect with their teaching. As a summative task, learners reflect on their goals and define an idea for continuing their professional learning in the next course.

FLP0002: Independent Instructional Development

Exploring a particular topic of interest is an enriching way to further one’s own knowledge of teaching. Throughout this course, learners deeply investigate a topic of their choice related to teaching and share the results of their investigation with a wide audience. Learners define their project type, set goals and milestones, engage in weekly interest groups and execute the details of their plans. Learners define how they want to share the results of their project and develop the resources to achieve this.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of FLP, participants demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Model professional behaviour in accordance with College policies and employment expectations of members of a post-secondary institution.
  2. Exceed the minimum standard for the use of common College-approved applications and technology.
  3. Seek out relevant opportunities and resources for continuous improvement of professional practice that align with on-going performance requirements.
  4. Explore best practices for establishing and maintaining inclusive educational experiences that embrace learner variability.
  5. Expand the range of assessment and evaluation tools and techniques used in the delivery of courses.
  6. Promote accessibility as a valuable tool for barrier-free educational experiences for learners.
  7. Identify opportunities for participation in service and community activities as a component of career planning.
  8. Produce materials that are effectively aligned with program-level outcomes and course learning requirements.

These outcomes are mapped to the program as follows:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
FLP0001: Advancing Your Instructional Techniques X X X X X X X X
FLP0002: Independent Instructional Development X X X X X X X X

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to participate in the Faculty Learning Program?

New full time professors and instructors who have never taken Faculty Learning Program at Algonquin College.

When are the intakes for the courses?

Both courses have a fall and winter intake, subject to enrolment.

I’m fairly new to teaching. Will I still be learning about “advanced” teaching topics?

Yes! Although the courses start at a higher level than the Introduction to Teaching at Algonquin College (ITAC) program, the program is designed with rich peer interactions and support built in to ensure no one is left behind.

My annual leave scheduling might make it difficult to take the courses consecutively. What should I do?

The program is designed to allow faculty to complete the courses in whichever semester they are on campus. If you begin the program in Fall and take your annual leave in the Winter, you will be invited to complete the second course when you return the following Fall.