From 21 to 23 September, thirty professors from the University of Palermo gathered at the University’s Feudo Pietranera estate in Agrigento for a three-day workshop on “New Strategies for Successful Teaching and Learning”. Led by leading teaching experts such as Monica Fedeli, Edward Taylor and Daniela Frison, the workshop enabled participants to acquire innovative tools for improving teaching quality. It was one of the activities planned by the ‘Mentor Project’ for the 2018–19 academic year.
The “Mentor Project”, active at the University of Palermo for around five years, aims to improve teaching quality among participants. Each teacher joining the project is supported by two mentors who observe some of their lessons and discuss areas for improvement. In addition, teachers participate in training meetings that provide practical tools and food for thought on university teaching. From 21 to 23 September, thirty University of Palermo professors met at the University’s Feudo Pietranera (AG) for a three-day workshop on “New Strategies for Successful Teaching and Learning”. Led by leading teaching experts such as Monica Fedeli, Edward Taylor and Daniela Frison, the workshop enabled participants to acquire innovative tools for improving teaching quality. This is one of the activities planned by the “Mentor Project” for the 2018–19 academic year.
The workshop, organised by Onofrio Scialdone, Marcella Cannarozzo and Gianluca Scaccianoce, formed part of these meetings and enabled participants to engage in discussions about teaching problems, innovative tools and, in particular, effective classroom learning methods for three days, from morning to evening. The rector, who had come to the Feudo specifically for the occasion, opened the proceedings by emphasising the importance of the “‘Mentor project” for enhancing teaching quality at the University of Palermo.
According to the cascading training mechanism, the workshop participants (Marcella Cannarozzo, Giuseppe Ciraolo, Pietropaolo Corso, Alessandro Galia, Pierluigi Gallo, Franco Grisafi, Vincenzo La Carrubba, Anna Napoli, Enrico Napoli, Gianluca Scaccianoce, Francesca Scargiali, Bartolomeo Megna, Fabio Caradonna, Giovanni Galasso, Francesco Pace, Carmelo Nasello, Manfredi Bruccoleri, Simona Feci, Maria Carmela Venuti, Renato Lombardo, Maria Ragusa, Elisabetta Oddo, Mariantonietta Ruggieri, Silvio Rotolo, Clelia Dispenza, Marialuisa Germanà, Onofrio Scialdone) have disseminated the knowledge they have learned at the university during the year, paying particular attention to those with limited experience of adult education. This will also help to raise awareness of the teaching role.