PowerStar

This graphic demonstrates the different but mutually supportive roles of faculty in an enriched learning environment. We call it the PowerStar simply because the understanding and embracing of these roles leads to the empowerment of students, faculty growth, and an increase in institutional effectiveness.

Learning

 Learner Development Self-Growth Professional Development Institutional Development

Teaching is the quality facilitation of learning at higher levels, creating an increase in the construction of knowledge.

 The growth of key transferable skills such as critical thinking, communication and teamwork. Transfering these skills so individuals learn to self-mentor their own growth through self-assessment & reflection.

Faculty embrace best researched practices in their professional functions.

Institutions must be receptive to change & employ continuous quality improvement.

Quality teaching facilitates quality Learning, which increases Learner Development through the mentoring process. As learners grow their skill levels, Self-Growth occurs for both faculty and students through improved self-assessment. The desire for continued growth inspires the teacher to seek professional development opportunities. By imparting a mindset of continuous improvement, Professional Development, in turn, advances the overall development of the institution. Coming full circle, Learning is at the heart of Institutional Development. The five mutually supportive roles of faculty are improved by strengthening the critical processes of instructional design, learning, teaching, mentoring, facilitation, assessment, evaluation, and communities of practice.

These roles, processes, and practices exist to support critical key values (found in the background area of the graphic). Some of these values are unique to a particular institution, while others are common to all of higher education. An institution must establish and practice a strong, recognized set of values throughout the organization for quality learning and teaching to flourish.