Week 2

Developing and Managing Educational Development (ED) Skills

Thursday, May 19, 1–2:30 pm EDT, Zoom, Register via Eventbrite

Facilitators: Véronique Brulé (McGill University), Samantha Chang (University of Toronto)
Panelists: Alex Kozelko (Red River College Polytechnic), Tim Loblaw (Simon Fraser University), Celia Popovic (York University), Davis Vallesi (York University)

What skills are needed for educational development (ED) in 2022? In this session, we will examine changing ED roles and responsibilities by analyzing recent job postings. We will consider how the fluidity and adaptability of ED positions affect the development and management of the ED skills toolbox. Panelists from graduate ED programs, colleges, and universities will share how their roles and skills have evolved and discuss methods for enhancing, acquiring, tracking, and presenting such skills. The facilitators will offer tools for developing and managing skills as the ED field continues to diversify and transform.

Session Outcomes

  • Discuss the diversity of skills in ED.
  • Recognize that skill development is an ongoing and adaptive process.
  • Practice using a tool to help prioritize skill development and management.

Pre-Reading Material

Examine one or more recent ED job posting PDFs from the list provided below or any that you have come across.

Padlet Activity

After reviewing one or more recent ED job postings, highlight what skills (characteristics, attributes, qualities, values, abilities, knowledge, competencies) are identified, recommended, and/or required in the relevant columns on Padlet.

  • What skills are required (need to have)?
  • What skills are recommended (nice to have)?
  • What skills are frequently identified?
  • Which skills in the job posting surprised you?
  • Which skills are “missing” from the job posting?

Session Material

*To download the PPT and DOCX files, right-click on the hyperlink text below and select “Save link as…”

  • Session Slide Deck (PDF|PPT*)
  • Skills Development Matrix Worksheet (PDF|DOCX*)
  • Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Annual Report (DOCX*)

Additional Resources

Teaching and Learning Podcasts

Session Panelists

Alex Kozelko

Alex Kozelko (she/her/hers) is the Supervisor of the Educational Development team at the Centre for Learning and Program Excellence (CLPE) at Red River College Polytechnic on Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She joined RRC Polytech in August 2020 as an Educational Developer. Alex has several years’ experience as an Educational Developer working to support teaching and learning in higher education with graduate students, teaching assistants, faculty, and sessional instructors. Alex has an MA in Political Science from Western University and a teaching certificate in EAL. She is currently in the final stages of completing her second MA in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Manitoba. Her research involved interviewing young people living in Lviv, Ukraine and the impact of the war in Eastern Ukraine since 2014 on their lives. Alex is passionate about teaching and learning, social justice, and all things Ukrainian!

Tim Loblaw

Dr. Tim Loblaw is the director of Learning and Teaching Technology within the Centre for Educational Excellence at Simon Fraser University. Tim’s Venn diagram of professional networks includes educational development, the Canadian college sector, and competency-based education and training. His professional background features 25 years’ experience in facilitation, instructional technology, and curriculum design and development.

Celia Popovic

Celia Popovic was the inaugural director of the Teaching Commons at York University from 2011 to 2018. She is now Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education where her research interests focus on supporting teaching and learning in Higher Education and the professional development of educational developers.

Together with her co-editor Prof Fiona Smart of Edinburgh Napier University, she developed Educational Developers Thinking Allowed, a primer in educational development available as an open educational resource at https://edta.info.yorku.ca.

Celia has been heavily involved in both the UK SEDA (Staff and Educational Development Association) and the former EDC (Educational Developers Caucus) in Canada. She has designed and delivered many courses on educational development including several EDC institutes. She is the author, co-author or editor of five books, including with Baume, D. and Popovic, C. (2016) Advancing Practice in Academic Development, Routledge, London.

Davis Vallesi

Davis Vallesi is a PhD candidate in the Communication & Culture program at York University in Toronto. He currently acts as a tutor at York University’s Teaching Commons where he assists in various educational development initiatives, including the co-facilitation of an introductory professional development course for teaching assistants. He has experience serving as a TA in the Communication Studies, Social Science, and Writing departments at York. His personal teaching philosophy includes an effort to facilitate deep or active learning, the implementation of learning outcomes and flexible rubrics, the inclusion of frequent formative assessments, and an interdisciplinary approach to conveying content. Davis would like to further pursue his interest in educational development as either a full-time career or a supplementary occupation alongside teaching and research commitments.