Harvard's Derek Bok Center

Higher Education Teaching Certificate

Enhance your teaching approach by adopting reflective techniques and updated methodologies.

Start date

29 January 2025

Price

$2,772 USD

Installment Plan

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Course duration

8 weeks

Excluding orientation

Language

English

Access resources from start date

Effort

8–10 hours per week

Self-paced learning online

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Course overview

The expected growth in postsecondary teaching positions in the United States by 2029.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Sep, 2020).

$4.21 billion

The potential market growth of classroom management systems between 2021–2025.

Technavio (Jan, 2021).

Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)

Improve your teaching methods in postsecondary education with our online short course. Drawing inspiration from Harvard's in-person seminar program, the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, the Harvard Bok Higher Education Teaching Certificate allows you to reflect on your teaching practices, portfolio, and educational journey. You'll explore the latest research on how students learn and gain insights on applying these findings in your own teaching context.

Our course delves into various pedagogical approaches in the higher education environment, including student engagement and classroom management. Take advantage of this opportunity to investigate reflective teaching methods and update your skills by adopting a more conscious, collaborative, and refined approach to teaching postsecondary education. By the end of the course, you'll gain a deeper understanding of effective teaching methods and be able to apply them to enhance student learning outcomes.

Is this course for you?

Improving your teaching practice is crucial for academic growth and advancement, regardless of where you are in your career. If you're a professor, lecturer, researcher, academic staff member, or aspiring teacher in higher education, this online short course can help you enhance your ability to manage a classroom, develop student mindsets, and improve your overall teaching practice.

As teaching practices continue to evolve, embracing reflective skills and regularly updating your methods is essential. This course is designed to provide you with the latest information on teaching methods and offer opportunities for self-reflection to refine your teaching practice. Along with earning a premier certificate, you'll also have the chance to network with other professionals in the field.

Whether you're a newcomer to higher education teaching or looking to refresh your skills, completing a higher education teaching course can be a valuable investment in your future. By obtaining your digital certificate, you'll validate your teaching abilities and demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning and growth.

Course overview

Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)

What will set you apart

On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:

The knowledge to create a positive, supportive, and inclusive postsecondary education learning environment through the application of rapport-building techniques.

Practical skills on how to deliver a lesson, make it memorable, and bridge the knowledge gap between yourself and your students.

An understanding of effective third-level education teaching practices, useful for raising your institutional profile as a reflective teacher.

Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.

Course curriculum

Build your teaching philosophy and portfolio as you work through the weekly modules of this online course.

Orientation module

Welcome to your Online Campus

Module 1

How knowledge is constructed

Module 2

How learning works

Module 3

Building rapport

Module 4

Lesson planning and delivery

Module 5

Engaging students

Module 6

Course and assignment design

Module 7

Using feedback to improve your teaching

Module 8

Teaching portfolio preparation

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What past students
think

Octaviano Merecias-Cuevas

OHSU Lead Trainer, Center for Diversity and Inclusion

This course strengthened my approach to become a more reflective practitioner who employs the latest evidence-based practices in order to serve diverse learners. It provided much-needed pause and reflection as an integral part of my professional development. I refined my tools as an experienced educator, added new tools to my repertoire as a practitioner, and connected with professionals working in similar fields. We spent countless hours giving each other feedback and offering perspectives on materials presented by the instructors. The platform was easy to navigate and well-designed, utilizing the latest evidence-based principles for teaching and learning in the information age.

Course Conveners

This online short course is led by esteemed faculty from Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.

Who you'll learn from

Robert A. Lue
The Late Richard L. Menschel Faculty Director, Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning

Adam G. Beaver
Director of Pedagogy, Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning

Pamela Pollock
Director of Professional Development, Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning

David Levari
Doctoral Student in Social Psychology, Department of Psychology, Harvard University

About the certificate

Hone your teaching skills and earn a premier certificate from Harvard's Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX.

Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with your digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.

Your digital certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you upon successful completion of the course, as per the stipulated requirements.

Harvard Bok Higher Education Teaching Certificate online short course certificate

YOUR INFORMATION

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FAQ

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We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.

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You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.

GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.

At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.

By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?

Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.

If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.

As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.

To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.

The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.

On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.

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