Eastern Time: Reflections on the Evolution of a Cross-Institutional Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) Program in Atlantic Canada

This short paper outlines the design and development of a multi-phase, cross-institution Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) program that was conceived by educational developers from five higher educational institutions in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The initiative is grounded in the belief that implementing the ISW program in the Halifax Regional Municipal (HRM) area will foster a local community of practice and further cross-institutional initiatives focused on enhancing teaching and learning approaches. This paper offers a brief historical background and rationale of the ISW program, and details of implementation. In addition, the lead coordinators share their reflections on the challenges and implications resulting from the process of adapting this established program to fit an innovative and mutually supportive cross-institutional design within the HRM.