TY - JOUR
T1 - The essential value of projects in faculty development
AU - Gusic, Maryellen E.
AU - Milner, Robert J.
AU - Tisdell, Elizabeth J.
AU - Taylor, Edward W.
AU - Quillen, David A.
AU - Thorndyke, Luanne E.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - Projects-planned activities with specific goals and outcomes-have been used in faculty development programs to enhance participant learning and development. Projects have been employed most extensively in programs designed to develop faculty as educators. The authors review the literature and report the results of their 2008 study of the impact of projects within the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine Junior Faculty Development Program, a comprehensive faculty development program. Using a mixed-methods approach, the products of project work, the academic productivity of program graduates, and the impact of projects on career development were analyzed. Faculty who achieved the most progress on their projects reported the highest number of academic products related to their project and the highest number of overall academic achievements. Faculty perceived that their project had three major effects on their professional development: production of a tangible outcome, development of a career focus, and development of relationships with mentors and peers. On the basis of these findings and a review of the literature, the authors conclude that projects are an essential element of a faculty development program. Projects provide a foundation for future academic success by enabling junior faculty to develop and hone knowledge and skills, identify a career focus and gain recognition within their community, generate scholarship, allocate time to academic work, and establish supportive relationships and collaborative networks. A list of best practices to successfully incorporate projects within faculty development programs is provided. Copyrite
AB - Projects-planned activities with specific goals and outcomes-have been used in faculty development programs to enhance participant learning and development. Projects have been employed most extensively in programs designed to develop faculty as educators. The authors review the literature and report the results of their 2008 study of the impact of projects within the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine Junior Faculty Development Program, a comprehensive faculty development program. Using a mixed-methods approach, the products of project work, the academic productivity of program graduates, and the impact of projects on career development were analyzed. Faculty who achieved the most progress on their projects reported the highest number of academic products related to their project and the highest number of overall academic achievements. Faculty perceived that their project had three major effects on their professional development: production of a tangible outcome, development of a career focus, and development of relationships with mentors and peers. On the basis of these findings and a review of the literature, the authors conclude that projects are an essential element of a faculty development program. Projects provide a foundation for future academic success by enabling junior faculty to develop and hone knowledge and skills, identify a career focus and gain recognition within their community, generate scholarship, allocate time to academic work, and establish supportive relationships and collaborative networks. A list of best practices to successfully incorporate projects within faculty development programs is provided. Copyrite
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U2 - 10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181eb4d17
DO - 10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181eb4d17
M3 - Article
C2 - 20671538
AN - SCOPUS:77956342352
SN - 1040-2446
VL - 85
SP - 1484
EP - 1491
JO - Academic Medicine
JF - Academic Medicine
IS - 9
ER -