Digital Teaching: Leveraging Digital Learning Tools and Resources to increase Online Student Interaction and improve Student Learning Outcomes

This course will provide participants with actionable strategies and techniques by integrating technology into their digital teaching practices. In addition to innovative digital media and their use, the participants will learn how to develop digital content that will enrich didactic materials for classes and training. Leveraging digital technology advances the agenda to provide accommodation to diverse learning styles and student abilities, leading to transformational change from the traditional learning environment to a digitized learning system. Digital technology provides an opportunity to enhance and enable delivery of education, eliminating barriers and restrictions of time and place, giving the students a warranty of a continuous learning environment while also granting students equal access regardless of their background.

Learning Objectives

Upon compilation of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explore a range of educational technology tools and platforms available to use in the classroom, including its features and benefits.
• Gain skills in creating adaptive plans that use technology to cater to individual student needs.
• Incorporate interactive learning by using interactive digital content, such as quizzes, simulations, multimedia, and polls to enhance the learning experience.
• Utilize data analytics to learn how to track student progress.
• Explore digital tools that facilitate collaborative learning and communication among students.
• Gain strategies for teaching potential-ready skills such as digital literacy and critical thinking through technology integration.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

• Develop adaptive lesson plans utilizing technology to personalize instruction for individual student needs, Participants will acquire skills for incorporating interactive digital content into lessons to actively engage students and enhance learning experiences.
• Understand and effectively utilize data analytics from a learning management system and other sources to assess student progress and adjust instruction for better outcomes.
• Learn how to use digital tools to facilitate collaboration and communication among students and teachers.
• Understand how to integrate future-ready skills such as digital literacy into the curriculum.

Service Deliverables

1. Comprehensive course curriculum in clearly defined modules with specific learning objectives and outcomes.
2. Guidance through the course from expert instructors to maximize learning experience.
3. High-quality recorded lectures covering course material.
4. Engaging activities such as polls, quizzes, and interactive exercises to assess understanding.
5. Tasks, activities, and projects that allow participants to apply what they have learned in practical settings.
6. Online forums where participants can engage in discussions, ask questions, share experiences, and collaborate with peers.
7. Access to instructors for questions and feedback.
8. A collection of supplementary reading resources such as articles, guides, and templates to enhance learning and application.
9. Assessment and feedback to evaluate participant’s progress.
10. Synchronous sessions with Q&A sessions where participants can interact with instructors and discuss course material.
11. Ongoing access to course material for a set period after the course concludes for review and reinforcement.
12. Tools for collecting participants’ feedback to assess course quality and identify areas of opportunity.
13. Certificates of Continue Education with contact hours and digital badges for participants that successfully complete the course.

Service Duration

Eight-week course, divided into four modules, each spanning two weeks, allows participants to delve deeply into each module’s content while assuring a well-balanced and organized learning experience. Over the duration of the course, participants are expected to engage in a minimum of 32 hours of coursework, plus 4 contact hours synchronously, providing reasonable time to cover the material and apply new strategies effectively.

The topics for each module recommended with possible digital tools that would be utilized, among others, are the following:

• Module 1 – Foundations of Digital Teaching Strategies
  • Week 1 – Introduction to Digital Teaching and Learning
  • Week 2 – Educational Technology Tools
• Module 2 – Adaptive and Interactive Learning
  • Week 3 – Adaptive Learning and Lesson Planning In the Classroom
    • Use digital resources for Interactive Learning (Plickers, among others)
    • Real-Time Assessments of Student-Teacher Interactions (with examples of different tools like Kahoot, Mentimeter, Quizzlet, Quizalize)
    • Integrating Tech Like a Champion Techniques (Doug Lemov) with Plickers Technology
  • Week 4 – Interactive Learning using Digital Resources Out of the Classroom
    • Use tools like Plickers for Interactive Collaboration Learning
    • Establish Collaboration Rules (List of rules and best practices to collaborate)
    • Practice Writing with Technology (Google Docs, ChatGPT, among other tools)
• Module 3 – Data-Driven Teaching and Digital Assessment
  • Week 5 – Data Analytics and Instruction
  • Week 6 – Technology-Enabled Assessments
• Module 4 – Inclusivity and Future-Ready Skills
  • Week 7 – Integrating Technology to Support Diverse Learning Needs
    • Developing Personalized Educational Content
    • Use of AI to Create Student Targeting Content (ChatGPT)
    • Chat Bot as a Simulation Tool (ChatGPT)
    • Using eBook Creation as a Student Learning Motivation (ChatGPT)
  • Week 8 – Preparing Students for the Future

Contact Hours

Eight-week course, divided into four modules, each spanning two weeks, allows participants to delve deeply into each module’s content while assuring a well-balanced and organized learning experience. Over the duration of the course, participants are expected to engage in a minimum of 32 hours of coursework, plus 4 contact hours synchronously, providing reasonable time to cover the material and apply new strategies effectively, for a total of 36 contact hours.

Assumptions

Service provider caps to ensure a high-quality experience for participants includes the following:

1. Instructor-to-participant ratio 1:25 to ensure personalized attention, effective support, and timely feedback.
2. Schedule 60-minute session every other week.
3. At the start of each module, the instructor will communicate their availability for responding to participants inquiries.
4. The course will be delivered using HETS’ Blackboard platform, a comprehensive learning management system that provides a range of tools and features to enhance the learning experience.
5. Technical support available to ensure timely assistance for instructors and participants.

Participants will need to have access to the following materials and equipment to fully engage with the course content:

1. Reliable Internet connection
2. Computer or tablet with updated software and hardware capabilities to ensure access to course content and activities
3. Webcam and microphone
4. Headphones or earbuds
5. Note-taking supplies, for digital or physical note taking
6. Up to date web browser
7. Digital communication tools, such as email for interacting with instructors and peers

Prerequisites for participants:

1. Basic proficiency in using digital tools and navigation online platforms.
2. Ideally participants should have some teaching experience but not essential.
3. Access to technology, Internet, and appropriate devices.