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Stepping Stones:
Foundations in Education

Program Objective

Stepping Stones: Foundations in Education is our foundational program at the Centre for Faculty Development (CFD). It provides support to health professionals in their multiple education roles and activities including teaching, education scholarship, advocacy and academic leadership. This introductory level program is aligned with other CFD programming which provides more advanced content in the same areas.

Program Description

Stepping Stones: Foundations in Education is a two year program consisting of both workshops and a journal club. Program goals are:

  • To promote growth and development of individuals in relation to their educational roles; and,
  • To provide opportunities for educational networking and collaboration across caring and learning environments.

Workshops are offered on a variety of topics related to the roles and activities Stepping Stones supports – teaching, education scholarship, advocacy and academic leadership.  Examples of topics include: clinical teaching, workplace based assessment, learning theories, curriculum development, mentorship, evaluation, equity and wellness. Stepping Stones follows a flexible, adaptive curriculum and participants choose to attend workshops that meet their needs and interests.

Journal club takes place once a month during Year 1 of the program. Journal club facilitates the integration of workshop content, the broader health professions education literature, and participants’ own education practice.

Program Structure

A new cohort of Stepping Stones: Foundations in Education participants begins every September. After you begin the program, you must complete the following requirements within two academic years.

1. Completion of 9 Workshops

To complete the workshop requirement, you must attend a minimum of 9 workshops within two academic years. Workshops are 3 hours in length, and are offered both in person and over Zoom. A list of Stepping Stones Stepping Stones topics offered during the two year program are listed here. We continually update this list in response to participant needs and environmental shifts. There are no mandatory workshops; participants are able to choose topics that best suit their interests and needs.

Specific workshops are advertised and available for registration on a per term basis: October – December, January – March, April – June. Please click here to see current workshops offered this term.

**Please note:  All workshops in the 2022-2023 academic year will be held virtually.   

 

2. Completion of Journal Club 

You must complete the journal club requirement in the first year of the program. Journal Club is held virtually and runs monthly from September to June, historically from 530pm-730pm.  You must attend 8 of the 10 sessions and complete 2 assignments in order to complete the Journal Club requirement.

Upon completion of the program requirements, you receive a Stepping Stones certificate issued by the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Office.

Journal Club Leaders

CFD Membership

All Stepping Stones: Foundations in Education participants will be automatically enrolled as a CFD General Member for the academic year(s) you are in the program and in the academic year following completion of the program.

Contact

Lindsay Baker
Program Lead
lindsay.baker@unityhealth.to

Sarina Iannelli
Education Coordinator
sarina.iannelli@unityhealth.to

Registration Details

Prerequisites: None

Who should register: Open to all health professions educators.

Format: Virtual with in-person components (hybrid)

Upcoming Dates: New cohort starts every September

Fees:
Non-member rate: $1100
Member rate: $900
Student/Fellow/Senior trainee rate: $500

Please note: Fee covers both workshop and journal club components. 

Registration Opens: March 1st

Registration Closes: June 30th

Register: Click here to register.

Certificate: Participants will receive a certificate issued by the University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Continuing Professional Development Office upon success completion of the program.

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Testimonials

“Stepping Stones is an excellent foundational program that has given me knowledge and skills to thrive in my current role. The workshops offered cover a breadth of topics, many of which I found relevant to my work. Attending the workshops provided me with new knowledge and resources, and encouraged me to reflect on and look for opportunities to shift my thought processes, approaches and activities so that I can excel within my role.”

“I truly enjoyed the Stepping Stones program! Not only the great diversity of topics, from clinically applicable teaching examples to simulation, theory of education and different research areas, but also the organization, enthusiasm and well-preparedness of the presenters and staff, the interactive workshops and meeting people with similar interests. I also benefitted from the Journal Clubs, where I built some friendships with people from very different fields. As a result of the Program, I have managed to come up with some new ideas and have published two education-related papers since. Thank you!”

Upcoming Events

  • CFD_MembershipMondays_Card.png
    3
    Apr
    This virtual community event is for CFD members to come together to during a lunch and learn to discuss emerging curiosities, questions and tensions within health professions education on the topic of the month.
    • Member Event
    Start 12:00 pm EDT
    End 01:00 pm EDT
    Location Online
  • CFD13-%20CFDLogo_SubBranding__Workshop_Card_Blank.png
    4
    Apr
    Participants will have an opportunity to explore the instructional design strategy, productive failure, and how it can support the development of adaptive expertise. We will define productive failure, describe how productive failure has been used in health professions education, and illustrate how participants can use productive failure design approaches in their practice.
    • Stepping Stones
    • Workshop
    Start 09:00 am EDT
    End 12:00 pm EDT
    Location Online
  • CFD13-%20CFDLogo_SubBranding__Workshop_Card_Blank.png
    6
    Apr
    This workshop will guide participants through the application of the “Principles for Anti-Oppressive Program Development in HPE” guiding principles framework to their own program development needs. This principles framework is for anyone who is involved in the process of designing, developing and/or delivering programs in health professions education. It includes key questions around several decision points in this process, including budgeting, recruitment, format, accessibility, content choices, and more.
    • Stepping Stones
    • Workshop
    Start 09:00 am EDT
    End 12:00 pm EDT
    Location Online

FAQs

Q. How do I create and/or activate my account to log into the site?

A. To create a CFD user account please click here. If you have already created an account, click here to log in. Please note you will be required to set up a new account and password for our new website. We will connect your account with your previous CFD event records.

Q. Is there a cost to attend your programs?

A. There is a cost to participate in some of our programs. The cost of each of our programs varies and in some cases, the cost varies depending on your status with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto and/or in which hospital you work as well as whether or not you have an annual CFD Membership.

Q.I do not have a faculty appointment in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Can I still attend your workshops, programs and/or events? Is there a fee?

A. Anyone whose education activities include teaching, leading, scholarship and advocacy are welcome to attend our workshops, programs and/or events. Specific pre-requisite criteria may apply. Please refer to each workshop, program or event page for details. All fees and discounts (where applicable) can be found in the workshop, program and event pages.

Q.I am interested in having one of your workshops offered at my home site/department. Do you offer this type of service?

A. Please contact us for further information.  The availability of this service is dependent on the resources and capacity of the CFD at the time the request is made.

Q: Is having a CFD Membership the same as having a CFD account?

A: No, a CFD Membership is not the same as a CFD account. However, in order to complete your CFD Membership registration you will be prompted to create a CFD account if you do not already have one. To register for a CFD General Membership and create your account click here.

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Our Programs

The CFD offers a number of exceptional programs to meet current and emerging faculty development needs across the health system. View the full listing of CFD’s programs to determine which may best meet your interests and needs.

Our Programs

The CFD offers a number of exceptional programs to meet current and emerging faculty development needs across the health system. View the full listing of CFD’s programs to determine which may best meet your interests and needs.

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