The challenge of teaching in higher education: Training novice lecturers

Abstract

This edition is devoted to active learning and teaching in higher education. This introductory paper discusses the challenges academic institutions face these days in their efforts to abandon old teaching styles of lecturing in favor of updated, fast-pace, relevant styles. Adopting such active teaching methods, it is argued, would (a) increase students' engagement and interest; (b) improve learning; (c) make academic institutions more attractive for new applicants; (d) decrease the numbers for of students' dropout and sense of alienation. This paper opens with description of the rapid global changes in higher education institutions. Then we survey the available local and overseas programs that prepare researchers to become eloquent lecturers. We also address the Israeli higher education council's policy regarding improving the quality of teaching. In the second section of the paper we present innovative two-year training program that would prepare every new researcher who wishes to develop a career as a lecturer in an academic institution in Israel. That 120-hour basic training includes four main sections based on Shulman's (1987) conceptualization of preparing teachers and evidence-based principles. We suggest that only those who graduate the program would become eligible to be promoted to a senior position and rankings.