An analysis of the competencies that instructors need to teach using accelerated learning

Abstract

The investigator in this study sought to establish and confirm the basic competencies viewed as important for instructors at technical colleges who teaching using accelerated learning. This was accomplished by surveying instructors and administrators who had participated in accelerated teaching and learning training over the past seven years to find out what they thought were important competencies that need to be learned by an instructor planning to teach using accelerated learning. Instructors and administrators were also asked to identify those competencies that they applied, as well as any competencies that they did not see as relevant to accelerated learning. An online survey was developed and distributed to 115 individuals, and 71 participants responded. The survey questions focused on accelerated learning competencies that were part of the Learning Strategies or Visionaries accelerated teaching and learning training that is conducted for technical colleges in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Since the purpose of the study was to validate competencies taught in training, as well as to determine additional needs, those statements that had an average rating of important, or very important, were considered to represent valid competencies. Participants were also asked to identify competencies that had been taught in other accelerated learning training they had received. The list identified from this question was used to determine additional competencies that should be included or considered in future training. The investigator also conducted a literature review around accelerated learning’s core principles, based on experts and practioners. It is the investigator’s belief that the results of this study provide validation of the accelerated learning competencies taught to instructors and administrators in the technical colleges. The list of competencies identified in this study can serve as a guide for establishing criteria required to instruct in accelerated programming. The list also provides a list of consistent competencies that can be used by the Wisconsin Technical College System to recommend as guidelines for instructor’s training in accelerated learning.