Harvard's Derek Bok Center
Higher Education Teaching Certificate
Refine your teaching practice by embracing reflective skills and updated methods.
Start date
07 June 2023
Enroll by 30 May 2023
Course duration
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
8–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The expected growth in postsecondary teaching positions in the United States by 2029.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Sep, 2020).
The potential market growth of classroom management systems between 2021–2025.
Technavio (Jan, 2021).
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
Engage with effective postsecondary education teaching methods in this online short course, inspired by the in-person seminar program currently offered by Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning. The Harvard Bok Higher Education Teaching Certificate gives you the opportunity to reflect on your practices, portfolio, and teaching journey in this field. You’ll be exposed to the most relevant research on how students learn, and discover how to apply this insight in your own teaching context.
Study pedagogical approaches through the lens of the higher education environment, including student engagement and classroom management. Use this opportunity to investigate reflective teaching methods and update your skills by adopting a more conscious, collaborative, and refined approach to your third-level education teaching practice.
Is this course for you?
No matter what stage you’re at in your academic career, being an effective educator is key to progression and promotion. This online short course is designed for professors, lecturers, researchers, academic staff, or aspiring higher education teachers interested in improving their teaching practice, classroom management, and ability to meaningfully develop the mindsets of their students.
Teaching practice in the higher education field
Teaching practices are evolving. To stay ahead of the curve, it’s important to embrace reflective skills and update your methods regularly.
This online course is designed to help you refine your teaching practice by providing updated information on teaching methods, as well as opportunities to reflect on your own skills and performance. While you earn your premier certificate in this higher education teaching course, you’ll get the chance to network with other professionals in the field.
Whether you’re new to the field of higher education teaching or looking to refresh your skills, a higher education teaching course can be a valuable asset, with a certificate validating your teaching abilities.
Course overview
Course Introduction
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
Engage with effective postsecondary education teaching methods in this online short course, inspired by the in-person seminar program currently offered by Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning. The Harvard Bok Higher Education Teaching Certificate gives you the opportunity to reflect on your practices, portfolio, and teaching journey in this field. You’ll be exposed to the most relevant research on how students learn, and discover how to apply this insight in your own teaching context.
Study pedagogical approaches through the lens of the higher education environment, including student engagement and classroom management. Use this opportunity to investigate reflective teaching methods and update your skills by adopting a more conscious, collaborative, and refined approach to your third-level education teaching practice.
Is this course for you?
No matter what stage you’re at in your academic career, being an effective educator is key to progression and promotion. This online short course is designed for professors, lecturers, researchers, academic staff, or aspiring higher education teachers interested in improving their teaching practice, classroom management, and ability to meaningfully develop the mindsets of their students.
Teaching practice in the higher education field
Teaching practices are evolving. To stay ahead of the curve, it’s important to embrace reflective skills and update your methods regularly.
This online course is designed to help you refine your teaching practice by providing updated information on teaching methods, as well as opportunities to reflect on your own skills and performance. While you earn your premier certificate in this higher education teaching course, you’ll get the chance to network with other professionals in the field.
Whether you’re new to the field of higher education teaching or looking to refresh your skills, a higher education teaching course can be a valuable asset, with a certificate validating your teaching abilities.
What will set you apart
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 2U’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
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
Get course prospectus
What past students
think
Lucia Campo
Middle School Teacher, Milan
I found the content and assignments very challenging, so I appreciated the course. You should consider this course because it's very practical – you are asked to put into practice what you learn, and this helps you improve.
Course Conveners
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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
Refine your teaching practice 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 a 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.
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Get a course brochure
Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
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.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
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.
Manage your time
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.
Seek employer assistance
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.
How to change your start date
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.
Discover the Online Campus
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 see the list of university partner login pages here.
