Whether you teach in the clinic, lab or classroom, chances are high that your teaching style and methods look different today than they did just a year ago. After all, teaching is an evolving practice, and even today’s finest educators will say that there is always room to learn, grow and become more effective.
At Indiana University School of Medicine, the Academy of Teaching Scholars (ATS) offers a structured, flexible, go-at-your-own-pace opportunity to develop as an educator, leader and facilitator of positive change. It is designed to benefit both the professional and personal aspirations of the school’s faculty, residents, fellows and graduate students.
“Anyone with a passion to develop their skills as medical educators should consider participating in the Academy of Teaching Scholars,” said Matthew Holley, PhD, assistant dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development and director of the ATS program. “Participants get the opportunity to engage with a community of scholars to continually improve their practice while integrating the research on teaching and learning and implementing best practices in the pursuit of teaching excellence.”
Program structure
The program includes three tiers, which must be completed in order.
- Foundation of Teaching Excellence (non-credit-bearing certificate)
- Continuing Education
- Faculty Fellows Program
Tier One: Foundations of Teaching Excellence
Open to all IU School of Medicine faculty and educators, Tier One provides participants with expertise in the fundamentals of teaching and learning. It consists of developing and refining a philosophy of teaching statement, participating in seven teaching-development workshops in a variety of competency areas and undergoing a peer review of teaching. Those who complete the tier will receive a certificate of completion, a letter of support signed by the dean and a book they choose from a list of educational favorites. To receive full credit, the workshops should be completed within three years of initial enrollment.
“One of the primary outcomes of participating in the Academy of Teaching Scholars is educators receiving the tools and resources to approach their teaching from a scholarly perspective,” said Holley. “Many of the requirements of Tier One alone can help faculty articulate their teaching efforts as part of the promotion and tenure process.”
Tier Two: Continuing Education (New pathways recently added!)
Designed for educators; course, clerkship, competency, rotation, residency and fellowship directors; center leaders; those who play a pivotal role in the educational enterprise and faculty who will be promoted and/or tenured based on excellence in teaching, Tier Two is designed to increase participants’ knowledge of educational theories and practices.
“In an effort to make Tier Two more accessible, we have developed new pathways for completion that focus on the professional development needs of the individual,” said Holley. “Having more individuals to complete Tier Two will allow more individuals to apply for our newly developed Faculty Fellows program.
Tier Two has multiple pathways to completion:
- Complete two graduate-level courses: Each participant completes two credit-bearing courses as a graduate, non-degree-seeking student with Indiana University Indianapolis, plus a scholarly project. Participants can choose between face-to-face, fully online or hybrid courses.
- Complete a master’s degree in education: Individuals who have recently completed or are in the process of completing a graduate degree in education can receive credit for completing Tier Two. Participants submit proof of degree completion along with a reflection about a scholarly project.
- Participate in a discipline-specific program: Individuals may also complete Tier Two by participating a discipline-specific educator program (i.e., the Association for Surgical Education’s Research Fellowship, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine’s Medical Student Educators Development Institute, etc.). Participants submit proof of program completion along with a reflection about a scholarly project they conducted during the program.
Tier Three: Faculty Fellows Program
Open to full-time IU School of Medicine faculty, the Faculty Fellows Program is designed as a year-long professional development program in which participants identify a specified area of interest within faculty development that advances their own personal interests and targets either a departmental or institutional need.
Working together with an Academy mentor, Faculty Fellows plan and implement projects that include a training component as well as a plan for scholarly dissemination of project results. One of the main goals of the fellows’ work is to raise the profile of medical education and generate enthusiasm for the pursuit of teaching excellence. Those selected as Faculty Fellows receive an allocation to support their participation and professional development.
Join the Academy
Develop your teaching skills, collaborate with a new community of professionals and receive special invitations to educational programs through the IU system by joining the Academy of Teaching Scholars.
To get started, email fapdd@iu.edu to express your desire to join. You will be invited to join an online dashboard that will allow you to track your personal progress and see next steps. Further instructions are available on the ATS webpage.
