Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW)
The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is a Canadian grassroots certificate programme that is becoming very popular in China. During this intensive three-day workshop, which lasts 24 hours in total, participants will work collaboratively in a small group setting (for example, one facilitator for every five participants) to further develop their teaching effectiveness as well as receiving feedback on new teaching strategies and techniques.
Focus: Lesson design / active learning / assessment / feedback / self-reflection.
Format: 24 hours in total (3-4 days), onsite/online, English/Chinese. Activities include micro teaching and peer feedback.
A Completion certificate will be sent to you after completing the workshop.
ISW Moments
Expert facilitators + a truly collaborative environment = your formula for teaching transformation. This is hands-on, interactive learning at its best.
Testimonial
Join the popular ISW workshops at XJTLU and discover why so many of your colleagues recommend them for transformative teaching skills.
“It was especially fun experiencing this with fellow teachers from STEM, business, languages... The environment was so friendly and encouraging that I felt comfortable stepping out of my comfort zone, which really boosted my confidence.”
Yuan Virtanen
“The Instructional Skills Workshop reinforced foundational teaching practices while introducing innovative, learner-centred approaches, deepening how I design and deliver course material. I particularly valued exchanging ideas with colleagues from other departments.”
Dov Moldovan
”Among the frameworks explored, the BOPPPS model (Bridge-in, Objectives, Pre-assessment, Participatory Learning, Post-assessment, and Summary) stands out as particularly impactful.“
Anonymity
”Through the focus on mini-lessons (limited to 10 minutes), the ISW has deepened my understanding of the instructional process, significantly enhancing the quality of my teaching.“
Svetoslav Georgiev
”My group members are from Mathematics, Education, and the Language Centre. I have learned many interesting teaching strategies from them, as well as the concepts behind the design.“
Xiaoyu Zhang
”The ISW has been profoundly transformative for my teaching practice. It has shifted my focus from simply ‘delivering content’ to intentionally ‘designing learning experiences.’“
Qian Zhang
”While I was already confident in my teaching approach, the ISW gave me fresh insights and helped me refine how I facilitate student-driven learning. It also affirmed many of the strategies I use in entrepreneurship education.“
Mustafa Ozguven
”We were sharing and listening to different opinions, and I experienced something new. The micro-lessons are very well-designed. Our facilitator is very supportive and approachable.“
Xue Yao
”The ISW encouraged me to bring even more structure to how I design experiential learning activities in entrepreneurship, especially around clear learning objectives and outcome-based planning.“
Anonymity
”The BOPPPS model stood out as a practical framework I can apply when guiding students through entrepreneurial processes, whether it’s ideation, pitching, or reflection. It helps make sessions more focused and engaging.“
Anonymity
”I found the content highly adaptable to entrepreneurship, especially in promoting active learning and student participation. The strategies easily fit into both business theory and hands-on project-based learning.“
Anonymity
”The learning environment was open, supportive, and collaborative. It was great to exchange ideas with colleagues from different backgrounds, all committed to improving our teaching practice.“
Anonymity
”The ISW was a tremendous confidence-builder. The opportunity to teach in a low-stakes, supportive environment and receive immediate, constructive feedback was invaluable. It allowed me to experiment with new techniques.“
Anonymity
Registration Method
Registration for the ISW is straightforward. Please monitor EDU email (edu.xjtlu.edu.cn) for the announcement and registration link, as available seats are limited and typically fill very quickly!
Other Resources
Ready to take your teaching skills to the next level and guide others in their instructional development? The Facilitator Development Workshop (FDW) is your next step.
This intensive, hands-on workshop is designed for educators who have completed an Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) and are ready to learn how to facilitate ISW. In the FDW, you will deepen your understanding of the ISW process by rotating through three key roles:
- Instructor:Hone your skills by planning and delivering a model lesson.
- Facilitator:Learn the art of guiding the feedback cycle and supporting your peers.
- Learner:Engage as a participant, providing constructive and supportive feedback.
Through a series of practical cycles, you will gain the confidence and certification to lead effective ISWs. This is an essential credential for anyone passionate about fostering teaching excellence in their educational community.
If you are interested in FDW, please contact edu@xjtlu.edu.cn.