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Applied Psychology

Creating Online Learning Environments in Higher Education Spaces is a Course

Creating Online Learning Environments in Higher Education Spaces

Ended Sep 9, 2020

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Full course description

Course Information

Description:

Flexibility and adaptability have long been the hallmark of 21st-century teaching and learning. The COVID 19 pandemic has simply forced University faculty to develop these attributes/skills far more rapidly than anticipated in order to effectively teach courses.

This fully online course is designed to help University instructors to better leverage what they already know to be good for student learning, and reframe their pedagogical and technological knowledge for remote/online context. The course encourages instructors to be adaptable, and think holistically about the learning environment they wish to create. Using instructional design principles, instructors will create learning experiences that use web-based tools to foster high-level student engagement.

Learning Outcomes:

 By the end of the course participants will be able to: 

1. align their teaching philosophy with the online context 

2. reflect on biases and conception of online learners and online learning. 

3. use instructional design principles to design a course overview to make human connections within a class and diminish the likelihood of isolation. 

4. design and execute a synchronous lecture that promotes student engagement and connection.

 

Timeline and Requirements:
The course runs over a period of 2 ½ weeks.  This instructor-led, fully online course is made of  3 lessons, each lasting 5 days (excluding holidays).  Each lesson consists of a 75 min synchronous session, selected readings, videos and web resources, and an assignment submission.  

Submission of all assignments and participation in the 3 synchronous sessions would be required to earn PDPs for this course.   

Class meeting dates are Tuesday, August 25th, 7:00am - 8:15am Eastern Standard Time; Tuesday, September 1st, 7:00am - 8:15am Eastern Standard Time; and Tuesday, September 8th, 7:00am - 8:30am Eastern Standard Time.

Fees & Policies:
Tuition includes all instructional materials. Participants receive a certificate of participation and professional development points.

Payment is due by credit card at registration. Refunds will be granted only up to the first day of class/program.

Registration for the course closes on August 21st.

Course Instructor

Photo of Keisha Valdez
Keisha Valdez

Dr. Keisha Valdez has been a professional educator for over 22 years. She has been a teacher, coach, and mentor for new professionals, teachers, school leaders, and university faculty. As a former urban, public elementary school teacher she has remained tied to teacher education over the years. She has advised struggling schools/districts on strategies for improving student outcomes, school reform, school-based management and raising the quality of teaching, learning and parent support.

Dr. Valdez currently serves as a Senior Learning Experience Designer at Boston College working with online courses and programs. Also, she designs and teaches professional development workshops and credit-bearing courses related to Designing Learning Environments, Intercultural Competence, and Culturally Responsive Teaching.

Dr. Valdez has expertise in the design and facilitation of highly interactive, action-oriented seminars, workshops, and courses. Her work has provided her opportunities to facilitate workshops and education research presentations in the USA, Trinidad, Samoa, South Africa, UK, and the British Virgin Islands.