Meaning of the Faculty Development Workshops

An Alternative Meaning of Faculty Development Workshops

Jorge Luis Romeu, Ph.D.
Fulbright Senior Speaker Specialist

P. O. Box 6134, Syracuse NY. 13217

Phone/FAX: (315) 476-8994

Faculty Development Workshops on Technology Infusion teach use of email, internet, and other technology, integrated with the use of contextual projects, developped by student learning groups.

In addition, these workshops can also be seen, in more than one way, as very effective

DEMOCRATIZACION WORKSHOPS:

Old pedagogical methods instill:

Rote, repetition and memory learning: this only instills in the students an acceptance of drill and endoctrination that does not enhance critical and independent thinking, one of the pillars of democracy and freedom of thought.

Individual work: which does not enhance the social skills/characteristics appropiate for integrating the individual into groups. It does not foster the creation of the civil society, which is based on organizations (e.g. churches, lodges, civic, sports clubs) independent from government interference and/or direction.

On the other hand: the new pedagogical methods instill:

Critical thinking, something that fosters inquisitive and free minds, basis for a pluralistic and democratic society.

Group work: which develops several good characteristics. These include learning to work with others (and to listen, to accept different ideas and criteria, to accept criticism, to incorporate other ideas from outside onself and eventually the group). If one cannot work in a small student group, it is very unlikely that one can build a democratic system.

This also provides training on organizing and operating groups, later naturally extended to groups in the civic society. If one can operate a group for the study of statistics you can certainly organiza a scout troup

Projects: theoretical knowledge is very nice -and unuseful. Turning concepts into realities that serve a practical (hopefully economical) purpose is one of the most important topics that students should learn in school (the training ground for life).

There cannot exist a sustaining democracy if a large portion of the population does not know if (or what) they are going to eat tomorrow. Learning something that will help individuals to put food on their table is of prime importance in pro-democracy work.

Hence, faculty development workshops are, and can legitimately be considered as, one of the most effective types of democratization workshops.

Respectfully,

Jorge Luis Romeu, Ph.D.

Research Professor

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Eng.

Syracuse University

Director

Juarez-Lincoln-Marti

International Education Project

http://web.cortland.edu/matresearch