Understand theories of learning and motivation.
Students learn in many ways and for many reasons. As you become familiar with the major educational theories and schools of thought, you become a better faculty developer. Educational theories help illuminate the assumptions about teaching and learning that many of us have been making for our whole lives. These theories give us an ever-expanding collection of good questions to ask before jumping to solve any particular instructional problem--therefore making the solution that much better, once we finally arrive at it.
But think twice before using the language of formal education research with your faculty clientele.
Why? Because when teachers come to us for help, they make themselves somewhat vulnerable. The language of '-ologies' and '-isms' is the language of academic debate, into which faculty have been trained to enter only when they are very well-armored. In asking for help, these folks are putting down their armor--and we must be gentle. We want our clients to be comfortable and that means that layman's language is usually best. Choose to discuss, for example, "mid-course feedback" instead of "formative assessment."
That said,
here are some great resources with which you can bring yourself up to
speed on the basics of learning and motivation theories. (
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About
Learning
A nice introduction to the major learning theories. Nothing burdensome.
General
Principles of Motivation
Basic ideas about the "whys" of student behavior and what influences
them toward or away from learning. Good food for thought.
Motivating
Students
Motivation,
learning styles, and strategies for how to be a motivating teacher.
Learning
and Motivation in the Postsecondary Classroom
Makes a well-supported case for how people come to want to learn
or not. Great discussion with practical advice.