Conceptual Framework

The Certificate in Introductory Course Praxis is grounded in the concept of praxis – the deliberate integration of knowledge, action, and reflection as a continuous cycle of professional growth. This framework positions faculty not as recipients of pedagogical training, but as reflective practitioners who systematically investigate their own teaching and make evidence-informed decisions in response to what they observe in their courses.

Each praxis cycle asks participants to examine their own course evidence, commit to a deliberate teaching decision, implement it, and reflect on its impact. Change is treated as incremental, observable, and cumulative over successive course offerings – one high-leverage iteration per teaching dimension, building toward sustained impact on introductory course student success.