The Importance of Community: Factors That Influence Course Design Behavior Among University Instructors in Canada

• In Event: Teaching in/and Context

Abstract

This study investigates factors that impact course design behaviours of university instructors in Canada. A survey of 520 university instructors was used to identify the number of tools and curriculum documents used during course design, the degree to which they were used, and how often instructors updated their courses. Linear and logistic regressions were used to determine which factors impacted these course design decisions. Cultural factors were the most impactful: Having a community that supports teaching had the largest, most wide-ranging effect, but disciplinary differences, department and university level support, and program type also had an impact on course design. Instructors in rapidly changing fields update their courses more often than those in other fields.

Authors

• Christine Elizabeth Bond Mishra, University of Toronto

• Daniel Gillis, University of Guelph

• Evan D. G. Fraser, University of Guelph

• Shoshanah Jacobs, University of Guelph