This article focuses upon the quality and scholarship of teaching as it pertains to educational and faculty development. We
outline what more than 200 faculty members at one institution have done over a 3-year period to make significant and sustained
improvements in their teaching, surprisingly with minimal effort. The top three factors leading to improvement were active/practical
learning, teacher/student interactions, and clear expectations/learning outcomes. We provide practical applications for change
and suggestions for future research.
Key words faculty development - teaching - active learning - teacher interaction - learning outcomes
Whitney Ransom McGowan is a Ph.D. candidate at Brigham Young University (BYU), and she received an M.S. degree in Instructional Psychology & Technology
from BYU. She is currently a research assistant for the Assistant to the Academic Vice President at BYU and also performs
research at the Center for Teaching & Learning. She can be contacted at whitney.ransom@gmail.com.
Charles R. Graham is an Associate Professor of Instructional Psychology and Technology at Brigham Young University with a focus on technology-mediated
teaching and learning. Graham received his Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University. He received
his M.S. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois and his B.S. degree in Electrical and
Computer Engineering, from BYU. He is particularly interested in studying the design and evaluation of blended learning environments.
He can be contacted at charles_graham@byu.edu.