Adult Education Teaching ExcellenceNEW

This micro-credential course provides an introduction to the foundations of inclusive teaching, starting with a fundamental understanding of learner variability and how social positioning impacts learner experiences of inclusion and exclusion. Learners will engage in self-reflection on their own social identities, lived experiences, and assumptions about education.

Upon completion of this micro-credential course, learners should be able to:

• Reflect on issues of ethnocentrism, stereotyping, bias, discrimination, power, and privilege.
• Critically reflect on personal beliefs, values, and positionality and how it impacts teaching practice.
• Illustrate the components of cultural awareness and competence.
• Explore various approaches to inclusive teaching.
• Craft a teaching philosophy statement that reflects enhanced understanding of learner variability and inclusion.

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Creating an environment that supports learning is a critical teaching practice. Whether online or in person, the learning environment has the power to encourage and support students or isolate and disengage them. This course examines effective teaching and learning practices and explores strategies to engage adult learners in a variety of settings. Participants will explore strategies that promote inclusion and belonging to create environments that support learning.

Upon completion of this course, learners should be able to:  

• Describe how the unique qualities of adult learners affect choices related to learning environments and teaching strategies. 

• Apply pedagogical theories and effective teaching practices to support and motivate diverse learners. 

• Integrate communication techniques that build rapport and foster positive connections in the classroom. 

• Implement inclusive and equitable strategies to enhance belonging and meaningful learning. 

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This course examines the importance of preparation and planning in a teaching and learning environment. Participants will explore the value of using learning outcomes and domains to design learning experiences that support real connections between the classroom and professional practice. This course offers strategies for implementing UDL to create inclusive learning experiences, and it introduces the benefits of structured lesson planning. Participants will create a structured lesson plan that includes key elements of effective and inclusive learning design. 

Upon completion of this course, learners should be able to:  

• Describe how learning design theories support the creation of effective and inclusive learning experiences. 

• Write learning outcomes aligned to appropriate domains and levels of learning. 

• Analyze learning outcomes to ensure they are well-defined and measurable. 

• Justify how learning outcomes can be used to design courses and lesson plans that support meaningful learning. 

• Explain the role of reflection and record keeping in promoting consistency and ongoing development of professional practice. 

• Create a structured lesson plan that includes key elements of effective and inclusive learning design and aligns with the learning outcomes. 

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Assessment Techniques prepares participants to assess and critique learners’ work for the purpose of continued growth and development. This course explores effective practices for designing assessments that align with course learning outcomes. Techniques for giving effective feedback, engaging in self-assessment, and creating authentic and inclusive assessments will be shared. Participants will design an assessment with a rubric to assess learning. 

Upon completion of this course, learners should be able to:  

• Choose assessment strategies that align with learning outcomes to increase validity of evaluations. 

• Integrate diverse, authentic, and inclusive assessment methods to promote higher achievement from all students. 

• Evaluate a training course using the Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model. 

• Explore the importance of descriptive and effective feedback to ensure students can easily identify areas of growth 

• Develop a rubric assessment tool for an assessment from an existing lesson. 

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This course explores implementation strategies and the rationale for using diverse instructional methods to reach all students. Active learning strategies will be explored and practiced, to assist participants in deciding which instructional methods will be most effective for their classes. This course will also support and equip educators with useful strategies as they integrate technology tools in their courses to create more effective, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences. Participants will deliver a mini lesson to their peers and will give and receive constructive feedback in a safe and positive learning environment. 

Upon completion of this course, learners should be able to:  

• Apply a variety of learning strategies that encourage student involvement and participation in the learning process. 

• Justify the importance of incorporating various instructional techniques into course and lesson planning to meet the needs of diverse learners. 

• Reflect on the role of technology in teaching and learning. 

• Justify the selection of technology to support learning based on the SECTIONS framework and inclusive design principles. 

• Deliver a mini lesson demonstrating effective lesson planning, presentation techniques, student engagement, and the ability to give and receive constructive peer feedback. 

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