July 31, 2023
To promote academic excellence and adapt to the evolving higher education landscape, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh, jointly organised the 'Teaching in Higher Education — A New Path' Faculty Development Certificate Program.
The program, held from July 24 to 29, offered a unique blend of online and offline sessions to ensure accessibility and inclusivity. It covered diverse topics, including enhancing classroom quality, using artificial intelligence tools, designing curriculum and pedagogy, and leveraging effective presentation strategies.
On the first day of the program, Shoolini University Chief Learning Officer Dr Ashoo Khosla welcomed the participants and emphasised the importance of student engagement and effective teaching practices. She shared valuable insights on maintaining a positive teacher-student relationship and creating a conducive learning environment.
On the second day, Professor and Associate Dean, Academics, Prof Narinder Verma and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Management Sciences, Rishabh Shyam, conducted an enlightening session on Designing Course Outcomes, highlighting the significance of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and its alignment with teaching and assessment methods. Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of crafting clear and measurable learning objectives.
On the third day, Prof Narinder Verma and Rishabh Shyam conducted an engaging session on Designing Curriculum and Pedagogy. The facilitators introduced the concept of ‘4 Layers of Success’, encompassing curriculum expectations and visions at various levels, including University/Institutional, Schools, and Programs.
The fourth day saw Associate Professor Kamal Kant Vashisth imparting knowledge on Tools for Effective Presentation. He emphasised the importance of intent over content and introduced various tools, such as Canva, to create visually appealing and impactful presentations.
On the fifth day, Kesari Singh conducted a session on Bloom's Taxonomy and Assessments. Participants learned about the six levels of Bloom's Taxonomy and how to craft assessments aligned with cognitive complexity, fostering higher-order thinking and understanding among students.
The sixth day featured Amar Raj Singh Suri, who demonstrated the incorporation of ‘AI Tools in the Classroom’. He showcased practical applications of AI, including text-to-image generation, text-to-speech, and text-to-video, enriching content creation and research endeavours.
Talking about the enriching program, Dr Ashoo Khosla said, “Throigh the Faculty Development Program, we want to empower educators with innovative teaching methodologies and strategies for hybrid learning. The active participation of the faculty members has been commendable, and I believe they will take these learnings to enhance the quality of education for their students.”
The program equipped educators with the essential skills to excel in the hybrid learning era.