Could Faculty Development Initiatives Like Workshops and Community of Practice Favour the Introduction of a Problem-based Approach in Higher Education? A Case Study

This article is dedicated to evaluating the impact of Faculty Development for the introduction of Problem Based Education in higher education. A bachelor’s science degree program in Animal Care at the University of Padua has decided to introduce Problem Based Learning in an entire semester, as a first propaedeutic attempt at transforming the entire educational pathway. The transformation process was made possible by several elements: a Faculty Development program that allowed teachers to approach the PBL method and the creation of a Community of Practice (CoP) among the teachers. A preliminary evaluation of the impact of the Faculty Development program was conducted and the article describes some results: Faculty Development initiatives were effective, participants learned meaningfully, and enjoyed formal and in group training activities. Participants increased their motivation to teach according to the PBL approach for an entire semester. Participants were also motivated to create some Faculty Learning Communities (FLC), a special type of CoP in which Faculty members learn informally in group.

This article is dedicated to evaluating the impact of Faculty Development for the introduction of Problem Based Education in higher education. A bachelor’s science degree program in Animal Care at the University of Padua has decided to introduce Problem Based Learning in an entire semester, as a first propaedeutic attempt at transforming the entire educational pathway. The transformation process was made possible by several elements: a Faculty Development program that allowed teachers to approach the PBL method and the creation of a Community of Practice (CoP) among the teachers. A preliminary evaluation of the impact of the Faculty Development program was conducted and the article describes some results: Faculty Development initiatives were effective, participants learned meaningfully, and enjoyed formal and in group training activities. Participants increased their motivation to teach according to the PBL approach for an entire semester. Participants were also motivated to create some Faculty Learning Communities (FLC), a special type of CoP in which Faculty members learn informally in group.

Parole chiave:; Higher education; Faculty Development; Problem Based Learning; Community of Practice

• Higher Education Learning Methodologies and Technologies Online Marina de Rossi, Juliana E. Raffaghelli, Alberto Antonello, pp.772 (ISBN:978-3-031-67350-4)
• Exploring the Effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning in an International Undergraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences: Students’ Satisfaction, Experience and Learning Anna Broseghini, Miina Lõoke, Marta Brscic, Juliana Raffaghelli, Barbara Cardazzo, Antonella Lotti, Laura Cavicchioli, Lieta Marinelli, in Veterinary Sciences /2024 pp.104
  DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11030104

Antonella Lotti, Juliana Raffaghelli, Marina De Rossi, Lieta Marinelli, Could Faculty Development Initiatives Like Workshops and Community of Practice Favour the Introduction of a Problem-based Approach in Higher Education? A Case Study in "EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN LEARNING AND TEACHING" 2/2022, pp 57-75, DOI: 10.3280/exioa2-2022oa15078