Learning from Our Past: The History of Educational Development in Canadian Universities. Occasional Papers in Higher Education Number 8. Occasional Paper Series.

This paper examines the evolution over three decades of the educational development (ED) movement in Canada. An informal history of ED was constructed, using published documents about ED and personal interviews with 8 educational developers who played key roles in programs and ED centers; e-mail responses were received from ten other developers. Five "critical" scenes in the early story of ED are identified: the opening in 1969 of the McGill University (Canada) Centre for University Teaching and Learning; the activities of the Professional Orientation Committee (1970-80); the Ontario University Program in Instructional Development (1973-80); founding of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education; and the Canadian Society for Studies in Higher Education (1969-). The paper goes on to examine the growth and expansion of educational development, and (1) reviews three separate eras of ED unit openings; (2) changes in program development over time; and (3) changes in perceptions, attitudes, and activities of developers. It also identifies important issues that underlie the movement, including concerns about competence; the role of the developer; and concerns about ED as an accepted and legitimate activity in universities. (Contains 12 references.) (SM)