Effects of an in-depth training cohort in teaching and learning: case study of the Knighted faculty program

This case study explores the Knighted Faculty program, an intensive year-long faculty development initiative that launched in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provided interdisciplinary faculty members with training in key areas of teaching, including course design, assessment, student learning, pedagogy, and classroom management. Through a mixed-methods approach, this study evaluates both short-term and long-term outcomes of the program’s first cohort. Faculty participated in an intensive boot camp followed by meetings and peer-based ‘teaching squares’. Key findings indicate significant improvements in backward course design, formative assessment, and flexibility in classroom management, as well as strengthened community among faculty. Longitudinal evaluation reveals a lasting impact on teaching practices. The study provides insight into the most effective elements of the program and offers recommendations for the continued enhancement of academic development programs.