Strengthen your teaching through practice, feedback, reflection, and learning with colleagues.
The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is an intensive, highly participatory professional development experience designed to support both new and experienced educators in strengthening their teaching practice.
Offered in a small-group setting over three to four days, the ISW gives participants an opportunity to experiment with teaching strategies, receive meaningful feedback, and reflect on their practice in a supportive and collegial environment.
The ISW is built around learning by doing.
During the workshop, each participant designs and facilitates three short “mini-lessons” for the other members of the group. Following each lesson, participants receive verbal and written feedback from their peers and have an opportunity to review and reflect on their teaching.
Throughout the workshop, participants explore practical approaches to:
The focus is not on expertise in the subject being taught. Instead, feedback centres on the teaching and learning process, creating space to try new approaches, take risks, and learn from colleagues.
The ISW is intentionally different from a traditional workshop or seminar. Rather than simply hearing about effective teaching practices, participants have repeated opportunities to plan, teach, receive feedback, reflect, and try again.
This experiential process can help participants become more intentional and confident in their teaching while identifying practical changes they can bring directly into their own classrooms.
The small-group format also creates opportunities for collegial learning, conversation, and connection across disciplines. For experienced educators, the workshop can provide a valuable opportunity to revisit established practices, experiment with new approaches, and renew their thinking about teaching and learning.
The Instructional Skills Workshop is appropriate for educators at many stages of their teaching journey.
You may find the ISW particularly valuable if you are looking to:
No particular disciplinary background or teaching approach is required.
The CTL offers Instructional Skills Workshops at scheduled times throughout the year. Because the ISW relies on a small cohort and active participation throughout the full workshop, spaces are limited and participation is offered through an application process.
Upcoming opportunities and application periods will be shared through the CTL website, events calendar, and campus communications.
Faculties, departments, academic units, and other campus groups can also request a dedicated Instructional Skills Workshop for their members.
A unit-based ISW can be particularly valuable for:
The CTL will work with your unit to explore timing, participant numbers, and delivery options.
The Instructional Skills Workshop has its roots in British Columbia, where it was developed in 1979, and has since grown into an international faculty and instructor development program used across a wide range of educational settings.
The broader ISW Program includes multiple levels of professional development, beginning with the Instructional Skills Workshop and extending to facilitator and trainer development.
The Centre for Teaching and Learning is pleased to have a certified ISW facilitator on staff, allowing the CTL to offer this internationally recognized approach to teaching development to the University of Regina community.
Whether you would like to apply for an upcoming CTL offering or explore bringing an ISW to your faculty, department, or unit, we would be happy to connect with you.