How to Adapt Faculty Development to Modern Educational Needs: 5 Essential Practices

As Gen Z fills graduate program cohorts, academic institutions face the imperative to evolve their teaching methods. Often referred to as digital natives, Gen Z students approach learning differently, favoring interactive, technology-driven, and flexible educational experiences.

One modality responding to these preferences is the hybrid accelerated model, which combines online coursework with periodic in-person immersions.

Innovative education models, however, must be complemented with robust faculty development. Faculty members need the skills and knowledge to engage these modern learners effectively in a hybrid accelerated context.

In this article, let’s explore 5 key strategies to do just that:

1. Help Faculty Align Teaching with Learning Objectives

In hybrid accelerated programs, it's essential to closely align content and teaching methods with course learning objectives. This alignment prevents curricular bloat and ensures student success in fast-tracked timelines.

When courses become overloaded, students feel overwhelmed, leading to surface-level learning rather than a deep understanding of crucial concepts.

Dr. Melissa Randazzo, Academic Officer of Speech-Language Pathology at Evidence In Motion (EIM), explains this imperative well: "In accelerated programs, we don't have time for curricular bloat. Faculty must focus on aligning content with accreditation standards to ensure consistency and quality, and promote student success. Most of all, they need to make sure they are targeting relevant knowledge and skills.”

Dr. Randazzo continues, “It's about making every minute count. We must ensure that students are ready to step into their roles right after graduation.”

To combat curricular bloat and achieve proper alignment, faculty must:

• Review course materials to focus on essential content and skills, eliminating extraneous information that doesn't directly support learning objectives.
• Carefully calculate and manage student workload, for both online and in-person components.
• Create a schedule based on student workload calculations to ensure courses are challenging yet manageable for students to achieve the learning objectives.
• Design assignments and activities that maximize learning within the accelerated timeframe, prioritizing quality over quantity.

2. Help Faculty Leverage Technology for Effective Instruction

As Gen Z students enter graduate education, their preference for technology-driven learning experiences necessitates faculty proficiency in digital tools and platforms. This is especially challenging for faculty who are not digital natives and who are teaching in a format they never experienced as learners.

In traditional settings, teaching is often unidirectional, with faculty imparting knowledge from the front of the classroom. However, in the hybrid accelerated model, the role of the educator evolves to facilitate a more interactive learning experience.

Dr. Randazzo explains, "Faculty members go from being the sage on stage to being the guide on the side in our hybrid accelerated graduate health care programs. Students become more autonomous in their learning, which increases critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities—skills they actually need in the real world."

To overcome this potential gap in expertise, faculty development should include:

• Methods for adapting traditional teaching approaches to the hybrid format.
• Training in learning management systems and online collaboration tools.
• Strategies for integrating multimedia content to enhance engagement.
• Strategies for integrating and leveraging AI.
• Techniques for facilitating effective online discussions and collaboration.

3. Promote a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Creating a culture of ongoing learning and improvement is essential for successful hybrid education. Institutions should focus on fostering a culture of continuous professional growth among faculty members.

This can be achieved through various strategies aimed at promoting engagement and support:

• Offer regular workshops, focused sessions, and "lunch and learn" events.
• Recognize and reward faculty who have invested time and effort in professional development.
• Establish mentorship programs and peer learning communities.
• Provide institutional support for faculty to obtain specialized certifications in hybrid teaching.

4. Encourage Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

In addition to fostering a collaborative and supportive environment, institutions should encourage faculty to engage in scholarly research focused on teaching and learning. By engaging in research focused on teaching and learning, faculty can gain valuable insights into effective instructional practices, contributing to a robust evidence base for their methods.

Dr. Melissa Randazzo emphasizes the value of such research: "In the intersection between research and teaching lies the scholarship of teaching and learning. Conducting research on your teaching practices not only supports your tenure and promotion but also builds an evidence base for your methods, ensuring they are effective and impactful."

5. Make Faculty Development a Priority

Successful faculty development programs need support and encouragement from the administration. It is essential for administrators to view faculty development as a necessary function of delivering superior education to learners.

To provide the necessary institutional support, higher ed leaders should:

• Understand where faculty need support by conducting thorough needs assessments.
• Develop a plan with clear, measurable goals for faculty development.
• Create a balanced environment that emphasizes both teaching and research, recognizing the importance of each in faculty roles.
• Conduct regular needs assessments and collect feedback to ensure development programs remain relevant and effective.
• Provide adequate time and resources for faculty to engage in development activities and implement new strategies in their courses.

By fostering an environment that prioritizes faculty development, administrators can ensure that faculty have the support and resources needed to excel in all facets of their academic roles.

The Importance of Partnership

As academic institutions adapt to the needs of Gen Z learners and the demands of the modern workforce, faculty development becomes increasingly critical. By implementing these 5 key strategies, institutions can ensure that their faculty are well-equipped to deliver high-quality hybrid education that resonates with today's students.

However, it's important to acknowledge the challenges in implementing robust faculty development programs. Building and managing these initiatives requires significant resources, including time, expertise, and funding. Many institutions may find these demands challenging to meet internally.

Given these constraints, partnering with experienced external organizations can be a valuable strategy. Such partnerships can provide institutions with access to specialized knowledge, proven methodologies, and resources to support faculty development efforts.

Ultimately, effective faculty development is a cornerstone of successful hybrid education, enabling institutions to meet the evolving needs of students while maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence.

By recognizing both the importance of faculty development and the potential challenges in implementation, institutions can make informed decisions about how best to support their faculty and, by extension, their students in this rapidly changing educational landscape.