The associate dean of teaching and educational development generally heads the faculty development committee. In this position, they must coordinate committee activities to develop policy to improve the teaching skills and knowledge of faculty members. This could include planning workshops on teaching methods, developing online resources to assist teachers in their work, and performing scheduled reviews of teacher proficiency. The associate dean must also have a high level of awareness regarding teaching methods. They are in many ways the head authority on teaching in the college, and so they must be able to instruct teachers on how to perform in the classroom.
Many schools today rely increasingly on digital technology to enhance student education. Not all professors are proficient in this technology, however. The associate dean of teaching and educational development has the responsibility to oversee the use of online resources in classrooms across the campus. Many schools are still in the process of developing such resources, and in this case the associate dean would be closely involved in this process. These resources could include interactive websites for classes, where students post the responses to readings and assignments, and websites that allow teachers to share information and get tips on classroom management. The dean should determine which resources are the most effective, and collect data on their use in individual classrooms.
Although the associate dean of teaching and educational development will work closely with faculty members, the position of dean is primarily an administrative position. Applicants should have several years of an administrative experience, and be adept at organizing information and coordinating between a variety of departments and campus offices. They must be able to connect faculty members with the resources they need to improve their teaching abilities, and to mediate between faculty and outside teaching development professionals. This job demands high levels of interpersonal skills, because the associate dean often serves as the spokesperson for the dean in many situations.