Listening to the 2023 Teaching Practices Survey: Professional Development

For those following our Teaching Practices Survey (TPS) results from 2023, we’re back for our final blog post to wrap up the series. This last post focuses on the area of “professional development”, which 16% of survey respondents said this was how they engage with Indigenous topics, perspectives and worldviews in their courses (for reference, please read blog post 1, 2, and 3 here). Various professional development opportunities were mentioned in the responses (see below), and many of these are often recommended by our team of consultants when instructors ask for ways to deepen their own learning about Indigenous topics:

While the desire to learn might be strong as you return to the classroom this fall, we’ve prepared a few prompts and questions to think about as you consider the many professional development opportunities available at UBC and beyond.

Engaging in Professional Development at UBC

What are my intentions for learning?

It is important to reflect on your intentions for engaging in PD as it will likely shape your learning experience, including your receptivity to make changes in your own classroom (if that is the goal). Be honest with your intentions so that your goals for engaging in the PD are achievable and authentic.

What are my gaps in knowledge? What do I need to know for my current teaching context?

Know what you don’t know. This is always easier said than done, but it is important to identify where your gaps in understanding are, so that you can align yourself with the appropriate PD opportunities. It is also important to be transparent about your own learning journey with students and to be honest when you don’t know something. While it may feel unsettling, showing students that you also don’t “know” something can allow them to be more open when they don’t have answers and can help build trust in the classroom.

What is my capacity at the moment? What kind of PD would allow me to learn something new, without burning out?

The energy to learn (and re-learn) is often strong at the start of the semester, but busy teaching schedules and the realities of life often make it difficult to continue in the PD we may have set out to do. Be gentle on yourself and engage in PD that will work for your specific schedule. Maybe you need something that is asynchronous and self-paced, or perhaps attending in person is preferred?

What financial supports are available to me for engaging in professional development?

There are many financial supports available for faculty, staff and students at UBC. For faculty and staff, the UBC Human Resources website offers helpful information for the type of funding that are available, as well as information on how to submit claims. For students seeking out specific professional development beyond coursework, it’s best to check with your specific department as the amount of financial support may differ for undergraduate and graduate students.

Final Thoughts

Participant responses in the TPS also highlighted the importance of engaging in professional development with colleagues as well as joining communities of practice. There are also conferences to attend, and podcasts to listen to that can easily become part of your morning commute to work. Whatever you decide, we understand that engaging in professional development is an important part of the UBC climate, but also that the work of decolonizing within teaching and learning spaces can be challenging. Feel free to reach out to us on the Indigenous Initiatives team for a consultation or drop in with any questions at our monthly Virtual Coffee Hours where you can connect with members of our team and others in the UBC community.