Small Group Instructional Feedback (SGIF) Certificate
The Small Group Instructional Feedback (SGIF) Certificate outlines how to successfully conduct this form of midterm student feedback sessions. Upon completion, you will be recognized as a trained SGIF consultant and able to set up a SGIF program at your institution to support instructors and students’ learning.
In this certificate you will learn about all the elements essential to a SGIF and how to plan an enriching, accessible, and sustainable SGIF program. There has not been an established format for running SGIFs. The aim of this certificate is to put that standard in place. This is not meant to stifle flexibility or needs based on context. Rather, it is to establish a format that is evidence-based but maintains flexibility for your institutional needs.
Throughout the asynchronous certificate, you will be assessed through uploaded documents. You will receive feedback from Dr. Cynthia Korpan on all assignments. The certificate is mastery and outcomes based, designed to be completed in about eight hours. However, you will have six months to complete, so that you can proceed through the certificate at the rate comfortable for you. Once you have satisfied all learning outcomes required to successfully complete this certificate, you will be issued your certificate of completion and a letter outlining the competencies and learning outcomes you achieved (as detailed below). All materials required to successfully complete the certificate are provided through the learning management system.
Who is the certificate developed for?
Anyone interested in being a trained SGIF consultant. Typically, this is an educational developer or instructional design specialist, who has experience with all aspects related to teaching and learning in higher education, or individuals situated in organizations and responsible for training colleagues.
Competencies:
You will demonstrate your ability to:
- Take a professional approach that is –
- confidential,
- curious,
- empathetic, and
- trusting.
- Utilize skills, such as –
- understanding context,
- listening deeply,
- detailed observation,
- respectful facilitation,
- relevant questions,
- qualitative analysis,
- writing, and
- interpersonal communication.
Certificate Learning Outcomes (CLO)
By the end of the certificate, you will:
- Confidently recognize the elements required to successfully conduct Small Group Instructional Feedback (SGIF)
- Expertly apply interpersonal communication, consultation, and reflective practice skills throughout the SGIF process
- Write a comprehensive SGIF report
- Complete a substantive SGIF program plan
Cost
Total cost: $95.00 CAD for the complete certificate. The completed SGIF certificate will count towards the Educational Development Certificate (EDC) to be launched in early 2027 (a discount of $95.00 will go towards the total cost of the EDC Certificate). The EDC Certificate will be comprised of 10 smaller certificates, which can be attained individually on a timeline suitable to you, or taken all at once. Details to be announced in 2027.
Testimonials:
The courses I have taken from Cynthia have provided me with a theoretical foundation that I use to better understand how to design classroom environments that promote learning. That foundation gives me an improved capacity to articulate pedagogical concepts so that I can perform effective literature searches to continuously improve my own teaching methods. Being able to engage literature effectively then gives me more confidence to take risks and evolve my courses at a faster rate.
Former faculty member student
Dr. Korpan is very skilled in online teaching and learning, using many effective options for learning in that environment and was able to give fulsome and helpful feedback to all students. Cynthia’s knowledge of learning and teaching in university settings is extensive. Her skills as an educator ensures that her courses and classes are organized, interesting, interactive, and engaging.
Peer colleague
Cynthia is a great instructor. Very knowledgeable about the subject matter. Good choices for assessment. Highly student–centered (i.e., not lecture–based) course activities. One of the best courses that I have taken or observed. Overall, she is a fantastic instructor and role model for teaching.
Former graduate student
Dr. Korpan is a delight to work with and is genuinely sincere, open, and considerate. She brings extensive research experience to her work and simultaneously helps others thrive in their own teaching and scholarship of teaching. Above all else, she understands educational excellence from a variety of perspectives: her extensive understanding of the research in the field; her own research studies and editing experiences; her program-building capabilities; and her hard work and innovation.
Peer colleague
Cynthia Korpan, PhD
Director
ITeach: Certification in Higher Ed Inc
About me
I have over 20 years experience in Educational Development in Higher Education and over 35 years related to workplace learning. As the former Director of Teaching Excellence at the University of Victoria, I garnered significant experience in developing programs and courses, teaching undergraduates, graduate students, and professors, and mentoring many about learning and teaching in higher education. In 2017, I was honoured with the Educational Developers Caucus Leadership Award for my national work related to educational development. My research focuses on emerging and early career academics’ first teaching in the academic workplace. This work and my expertise have been and continues to be shared with institutions around the world, such as Canada, the United States, China, Uganda, Pakistan, and Ghana.
