Ed Neal, professional consultant in higher education and editor, Journal of Faculty Development

Ed Neal began his college teaching career in 1968 as a professor of Russian history. His interest in[more] pedagogy ultimately led him to pursue a career in faculty development. In 1976, he created the first faculty development program at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and he served as director of that program for 32 years before retiring in 2008. In his work at UNC, he led faculty development workshops and seminars, wrote articles and monographs on pedagogical issues, developed teaching assessment systems, designed program evaluations, and served on university committees dealing with teaching, learning, assessment, and the curriculum. Much of his work focused on consultations with individual instructors, helping them solve instructional problems, develop new teaching approaches, plan courses, design exams and assignments, and interpret the results of student evaluations and peer reviews. He also taught graduate courses in college teaching and served as clinical professor in UNC’s School of Nursing, School of Education, and School of Dentistry. He continues to publish in pedagogical journals and provide faculty development services as a private consultant. He is the editor of The Journal of Faculty Development and serves on the editorial boards of The National Teaching and Learning Forum and Innovative Higher Education.

Research suggests that active involvement is essential for the practice of higher-level cognitive skills and critical thinking, but lectures remain the predominant mode of instruction in higher education. This workshop is designed for faculty members who are beginning to experiment with active learning. It focuses on low-risk strategies that can easily be employed in any discipline. Participants will leave the workshop with at least two strategies they can apply immediately in their classes.

Keywords: active learning, critical thinking, teaching strategies