TWT PD Courses
HCT TWT PD Courses and Certification Programs are designed as per the needs of Higher Colleges of Technology faculty. Many of the modules can be taken at any HCT campus in coordination with the local LMS teams, while others need to be take with the Teaching with Technology team.
HCT Faculty, Program Chairs or Executive Deans can email pdhelp@hct.ac.ae or the TWT manager Sarah Whittaker at swhittaker@hct.ac.ae for more information or to discuss the Teaching with Technology training needs and requirements of their division
Essentials of Teaching with Technology Certificate
Description:
The SAMR Model is a framework that guides the thoughtful integration of technology into lesson creation and delivery. The model includes various stages of impact, including Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition, and can help educators create technology-based activities that either enhance or transform learning. This course aims to explain the model to faculty and outline the reasons why it can be a good framework to follow when including technology as part of a teaching and learning plan.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, the participants will be able to:
- describe the SAMR Model and the characteristics of each degree of technology integration,
- identify where specific technology-based activities sit on the SAMR Model framework, and
- design or adapt lessons and/or technology-based activities using the SAMR Model.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours
Description:
The 21st Century Skills are a set of skills and competencies learners need to succeed in their lives both during and beyond tertiary study. This course aims to introduce these skills to faculty, outline the reasons why they are important and demonstrate how educators can incorporate the development of these skills into their lesson delivery regardless of content or context.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, the participants will be able to:
- identify 21st century skills needed in the digital workforce,
- evaluate learning activities as 21st century skill-building opportunities, and
- design or adapt lessons to include 21st century skill-building opportunities.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours
Description:
The TPACK Framework is a reference that brings together technological, pedagogical and content knowledge to guide educators in the effective implementation of technology into their teaching and learning. By thoughtfully considering these areas, educators will be better able to integrate appropriate technology to enhance content delivery and support learning. This course aims to introduce this framework to faculty and demonstrate how it can be used to foster pedagogically sound technical integration.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, the participants will be able to:
- describe the TPACK framework and the relationships between its components,
- identify different technological integrations to support pedagogical and content considerations, and
- design or adapt lessons using the TPACK framework.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours
Description:
In this course, participants will learn key characteristics of designing high-quality online learning spaces based on the Blackboard exemplary course rubric. Instruction will cover recommended practices within the framework of Course Design, Interaction and Collaboration, Assessment, and Learner Support. Participants will also have access to a previously awarded Blackboard exemplary course.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, the participants will be able to:
- Identify the 3 main elements of the flipped model.
- Articulate common benefits & challenges of the flipped model
- Create a self-paced NearPod lesson and access the activity report.
- Include an embedded Microsoft Form within a Stream-based video and review submissions.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours
Description:
In this course, participants will learn key characteristics of designing high-quality online learning spaces based on the Blackboard exemplary course rubric. Instruction will cover recommended practices within the framework of Course Design, Interaction and Collaboration, Assessment, and Learner Support. Participants will also have access to a previously awarded Blackboard exemplary course.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, the participants will be able to:
- recognize characteristics of exemplary online learning spaces as per the Blackboard exemplary course rubric,
- learn about approaches to apply recommended practices into their courses, and
- evaluate how well their own course conforms to recommended practices for Course Design, Interaction and Collaboration, Assessment and Learner Support.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours
m-Learning
Description:
This course has been designed to introduce mobile friendly practices to enable faculty to transform their existing courses for mobile delivery. The units in the course cover mobile learning apps, using mobiles in teaching and learning strategies and course design considerations. A number of mobile tools will also be covered.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, the participants will be able to:
- describe what mLearning is,
- identify mobile-friendly content,
- create a mobile-friendly test,
- create tasks with different tools for their students, and
- design a mobile-friendly course in Blackboard.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 7 Credit Hours
Description:
This course is for faculty who are interested in exploring and discussing the ways we communicate in the 21st century, and how they can be incorporated into an educational setting. Participants in this course will complete lessons covering how mobile phones, discussion boards, and social media can be used in their teaching and learning strategies. They will experiment using these tools in their classrooms and reflect on their experiences in their course blog.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, the participants will be able to:
- identify a variety of digital communications tools appropriate for education,
- describe the advantages and challenges instructors face interacting with their students online,
- apply appropriate strategies for overcoming such challenges, and
- design and implement an effective online discussion.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 7 Credit Hours
Description:
This course is for faculty who already have a basic understanding of a mobile operating system. The participants will review the usage of mobile devices by their students and themselves and how this has affected our everyday lives and classrooms. They will then explore new apps or web 2.0 tools that can be incorporated into the classroom and learn how to evaluate them. They will also review the use of Audience Response Systems (ARS) for formative evaluations and implement one ARS tool in a lesson.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, the participants will be able to:
- describe how mobile devices have affected the way people consume, collate and communicate information,
- analyze several mobile apps or web 2.0 technologies for their appropriate implementation in the classroom,
- select an appropriate Audience Response System (ARS) tool for their classroom, and
- effectively incorporate an ARS tool into a lesson.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 7 Credit Hours
Online Teaching
Description:
This course will provide learners an overview of the interactive tools in Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, as well as, introduce additional tools they can implement to ensure students are attentive and engaged during their online class.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- describe various interactive tool options available to use during a Collaborate Ultra session,
- implement a variety of tools to facilitate interaction and collaboration during an online session, and
- troubleshoot issues students may initially face when using these tools and interacting online.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 3 Credit Hours
Description:
This course is for faculty who are preparing to teach online courses or who are interested in learning more about how to facilitate online synchronous classes. Participants will watch videos that cover giving students a voice, presenting themselves and their material and tools for effective online communication. The course also includes practical strategies for planning and delivering engaging online classes in real time, as well as additional resources to help faculty prepare for teaching online classes.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- prepare all elements needed to deliver an online synchronous course successfully,
- create an engaging and participatory environment in online classes,
- use a platform such as Zoom or Collaborate to deliver and facilitate online classes, and
- utilize a number of online-based tools to encourage participation and collaboration in online synchronous classes.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 7 Credit Hours
Description:
This fully online Epigeum course helps participants put pedagogical frameworks into practice to improve their online teaching. The course provides practical strategies for building an effective learning community, facilitating and leading online learning, and using assessment in an online course. It will take approximately 7 hours for participants to complete the required work and activities, which include an Epigeum course containing videos, PDFs, web links, as well as, online discussions and blog entries.
Course Learning Outcomes:
Completing the activities in this course will contribute to your ability to::
- design and organize an online course or module,
- facilitate and moderate an online course or module,
- direct and lead an online course or module, and
- assess student learning in an online course or module.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 7 Credit Hours
Description:
This fully online Epigeum course provides participants with a series of step-by-step learning design activities to help teachers develop their own successful online course. The course explores the issues of academic integrity, accessibility and inclusive design in addition to guidance on following best practice and avoiding pitfalls in the planning stages of your course. It will take approximately 7 hours for participants to complete the required work and activities, which include an Epigeum course containing videos, PDFs, web links, as well as, online discussions and blog entries. This is a highly interactive course, so it is important that you try to complete the tasks, specifically the discussion board and blog posts, in a timely manner. This will make sure that you are part of the active conversation on how to design and develop your online course.
Learn more about Epigeum course here
Course Learning Outcomes:
Completing the activities in this course will contribute to your ability to:
- identify appropriate learning design methods,
- evaluate common learning design processes related to planning for online learning,
- apply appropriate design methods to online learning scenarios,
- identify appropriate assessment methods and apply them to online learning scenarios,
- identify identify appropriate evaluation methods and apply them to online learning scenarios, and
- incorporate diverse learning activities into your teaching and locate a broader range of educational resources.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 7 Credit Hours
Description:
This self-paced online course provides participants with a series of activities to help teachers develop and adapt to an online learning pedagogy. The course explores the issues of how people learn through constructivism and the Community of Inquiry model to foster online interaction. It will take approximately 7 hours for participants to complete the required work and activities, which include an Epigeum course containing videos, PDFs, web links, as well as, online discussions and a review quiz. Considering the focus of this course, it’s important that you participate in the online discussions and finish the 5 modules in a timely manner. This will ensure that you are part of the active conversation on how to further develop your online pedagogical skills.
Course Learning Outcomes:
Completing the activities in this course will contribute to your ability to:
- identify and discuss the four characteristics of constructivist learning environments,
- evaluate the changing paradigm from teaching to learning in online education,
- utilise the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework for your online pedagogy,
- identify and employ the key elements of online interaction,
- demonstrate understanding of how to successfully structure an online course,
- use both formative and summative assessment in online learning, and
- identify and understand the changing nature of online students.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 7 Credit Hours
Description:
This full online, self-paced course is for faculty who want to learn about using different technology tools for teaching online and blended courses. Participants will complete lessons that cover developing, delivering and curating content; facilitating communication and interaction; developing assessments and evaluating learning; exploring digital innovations; and, selecting and adopting technology tools into their online teaching and learning strategies. It will take approximately seven hours for participants to complete the required work and activities, which include online discussions and blog entries as well as an Epigeum course containing videos, PDFs and web links. This is a highly interactive course, so it is important that you try to complete the tasks, specifically the discussion board and blog posts, in a timely manner as others will want to comment on your contributions. This will make sure that you are part of the active conversation on how use technology tools for teaching online.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- develop and curate content to support student learning,
- facilitate communication and interaction using a number of tools in an LMS as well as external tools,
- utilize the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework for your online pedagogy,
- evaluate student learning in an online environment, and
- select, test and implement appropriate technology tools.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 7 Credit Hours
Nearpod
Description:
This course will provide learners an introduction to the Nearpod District License. There are four main lessons in the course that will bring the learner through all the basic knowledge to confidently navigate the Nearpod interface and start launch lessons for their students to complete.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- update their profile in Nearpod,
- adjust advanced settings.
- add lessons from the Nearpod store to their library.
- edit lessons in their library.
- launch both live and student-paced lessons.
- share lessons, and
- create a basic lesson.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours
Description:
This course is for faculty who would like to learn how to use Nearpod or improve upon their existing skills to create and share interactive lessons with their students. Participants in this course will learn how to create an interactive Nearpod lesson using a PowerPoint file. They will then learn how to manage their lessons, find already created ones and review reports. As well, participants will be given an overall explanation of the Nearpod interface and will learn how to share both live and student-paced lessons.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- create a Nearpod lesson,
- find lessons in the Nearpod store,
- share both live and student-paced lessons with their learners, and
- track their students’ progress and participation in the lesson.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 3 Credit Hours
Description:
This course will guide the participants in how to complete their application to become a Nearpod Certified Educator. Before taking this course, participants should already be comfortable creating and conducting lessons in Nearpod. If they are not, they should complete the below course first.
Recommended Pre-requisite: Creating Interactive Lessons in Nearpod.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- describe the benefits of becoming a Nearpod Certified Educator,
- create a Nearpod lesson according to Nearpod’s recommended lesson guide, and
- complete the application process of becoming a Nearpod Certified Educator.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 4 Credit Hours
Office 365 in the Classroom
Description:
This course has been designed to introduce the collaborative functions of Office 365 and the various apps that allow for this. There five units or Toolbox workshops in this course, including Setting up OneDrive, Sharing and Collaborating, Forms, Stream and Yammer. Each section includes demonstration videos and step-by-step simulations, as well as external resources to support your learning and practice.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- set up OneDrive and use it to create and organize folders and files,
- share folders and files with colleagues,
- use the Office 365 apps Word, Excel and PowerPoint to collaborate in real time,
- use Forms to create and share surveys and quizzes, and analyze results,
- store, manage and share videos using channels and groups in Stream, and
- create, monitor and participate in private social network groups in Yammer.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours
Description:
This course is for faculty who would like to learn how to use HyperDocs to deliver content and create interactive collaborative projects for their learners. Participants in this course will complete lessons and watch videos that covering how to create lesson plans using HyperDocs, insert a variety of media elements and share their creations with others.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- create and HyperDocs with various types of media,
- share folders and files with colleagues,
- share their documents with learners and other educators, and
- upload their document to Blackboard.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 3 Credit Hours
Description:
This course is for faculty who would like to learn to use Microsoft Teams, which is part of the Office 365 apps suite, for team coordination and content sharing. Participants in this course will complete lessons covering how to create teams and structure them by using channels to separate and organize conversations and files according to topic. The course will also cover creating and editing OneNote Class Notebooks to use with students. This course is offered in both blended and online delivery modes.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- create teams and add members,
- create channels within each team for different topics the team needs to focus on,
- collaborate and focus on specific tasks using conversations, files and tasks within the channels, and
- create and edit OneNote Class Notebooks both in Teams and in OneNote.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 3 Credit Hours
Description:
The participants will be introduced to FlipGrid, a tool that will enable them to create and monitor video discussions with and amongst their students. They will watch several instructional videos, participate in group and whole-class discussions on topics including possible uses for the tool as well as some potential challenges and solutions of using it. They will also do practical, hands-on activities such as participation in a FlipGrid discussion and creating their own.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- describe what FlipGrid is,
- explain the possible benefits of using this tool with their students,
- create their own Grid and Topic,
- implement a FlipGrid discussion in their own class, and
- reflect on the success or failure of using this tool with their students.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 3 Credit Hours
Kahoot!
Description:
This course is for faculty who would like to learn how to use Kahoot! to create learning games to use in the classroom. Participants in this course will complete lessons and watch several videos covering how to play Kahoot!, as well as how to use the program to create and host Kahoot! games and assign them for homework.
Note: This course is available online or through your local Learning Management System teams.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- create and edit Kahoot! games,
- host Kahoot! games and review their statistics, and
- assign Kahoots as homework.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 3 Credit Hours
Description:
This course will introduce faculty to the basics of the Kahoot! platform and lead them to obtain a Kahoot! diploma and Bronze badge. This course has been developed by Kahoot!, but is facilitated through the HCT PD Dashboard with an additional Reflective Account, so that faculty can interact with each and find out what other instructors think about using Kahoot! in their classes.
Note: This course is available online or through your local Learning Management System teams.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- effortlessly navigate the Kahoot! Platform,
- search and discover existing high-quality kahoots from the Kahoot! library,
- duplicate and customize an existing kahoot to fit their needs, and
- launch and host a kahoot game in their class.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours
Description:
This course will introduce faculty to the intermediate elements of the Kahoot! platform and lead them to obtain a Kahoot! diploma and Silver badge. This course has been developed by Kahoot!, but is facilitated through the HCT PD Dashboard with an additional Reflective Account, so that faculty can interact with each and find out what other instructors think about using Kahoot! in their classes.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- create a high-quality kahoot from scratch
- add multimedia to enhance their kahoot,
- understand game options to tailer their live Kahoot! Experience,
- assign student-paced challenges to focus on accuracy, and
- make the most of Kahoot! in a distance learning setting.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours
Developing eContent
Description:
This course will introduce the participant to 5 learning technology tools that they can use to effectively implement the flipped classroom teaching approach. Each of these tools can track the students’ progress through the content to ensure there is learner accountability and to help the instructor decide on what they should cover in the next lesson based on learner comprehension.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- describe learning technology tools that you can use to create trackable learning content,
- select and implement an appropriate learning technology tool for a flipped classroom lesson, and
- reflect on why that learning technology was appropriate or not.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 3 Credit Hours
Description:
This course covers the theoretical aspects of creating engaging learning videos for your students along with the practical aspects of using video-creation software. It looks at the research of multimedia theory and how to download and use video creation software such as Zoom, Camtasia and PowerPoint.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- apply multimedia theory and principles to video creation,
- create videos with Zoom, Camtasia and PowerPoint, and
- upload and share videos through the Office 365 Stream application.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 4 Credit Hours
Description:
In this course you will learn what BookWidgets is, basic navigation of the tool and what you need to do to access the HCT License.
If you are tired of standing at the photocopier for hours and then learning that your students ‘lost’ their worksheet papers, then BookWidgets might be the answer.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- access the HCT BookWidgets license, ,
- share widgets with their students and colleagues, and
- explain how to maintain their license.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours
Description:
The participants will be introduced to BookWidgets, an online content creation software that allows faculty to create interactive worksheets and quizzes which can be viewed and completed by students on all devices. Built-in templates for worksheets, games, and quizzes help faculty create engaging online content efficiently. BookWidgets is no longer restricted to iPads and iBook Author. These widgets can be created and shared with your students on any device. Instructors can also track their student’s progress in the activity and provide feedback.
If you are tired of standing at the photocopier for hours and then learning that your students ‘lost’ their worksheet papers, then BookWidgets might be the answer.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- create two different BookWidgets activities,
- create a worksheet that combines several activities together,
- share an activity or worksheet with their students, and
- monitor their students’ activity and results.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours
Description:
In this course, we will dive a bit deeper in how you can share your widgets with your students and colleagues. We will also review how to monitor your students work in both the live and final submissions.
Note: you must have access to the HCT BookWidgets License to take this course. You also need to have a minimum of two gradable widgets in your account ready to launch.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- determine the best method to share widgets with their students,
- share widgets with their colleagues through a common folder and link,
- monitor their students’ progress and provide feedback, and
- grade their students work so that it is reflected in the Blackboard grade center.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 3 Credit Hours
Description:
This course is for faculty who would like an introduction to the content and eLearning authoring tool SoftChalk. Participants in this course will complete lessons covering how to build an interactive SoftChalk lesson that includes different types of activities and quizzes. Participants will also learn how to save their created courses to Blackboard to share with their learners.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- create a SoftChalk lesson from an existing Microsoft Word document,
- build and incorporate interactivities and quizzes into lessons, and
- upload completed SoftChalk lessons to Blackboard.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 3 Credit Hours
Description:
This course is designed for faculty who are looking to increase their knowledge about building digital lessons with the SoftChalk software. Participants will complete lessons that cover how to adapt and design a personalized theme, create and edit callout boxes and sidebar panels, insert PowerPoints and PDFs, and use the library to store, source and reuse lesson items. It is highly recommended that participants first complete the introductory course Developing Digital Lessons with SoftChalk. That 3-hour course covers the basics of creating lessons and adding visual and interactive elements. Participants will need to know these basic skills before moving on in the advanced course.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- edit an existing SoftChalk theme to include their own personalized look,
- use callout boxes and sidebar panels to add content that enhances their lessons
- insert external resources such as PowerPoint presentations and PDF documents into their lessons, and
- use the library to save and reuse lesson items.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 3 Credit Hours
Description:
This is an overview of the Adobe Education Exchange PD platform and how to gain credit for completing these courses. It also covers the functionality of Rush CC and Spark as these are often used to complete assignments in Adobe Edex. Finally, it looks at a number of the most commonly used applications available in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.
Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the participant will be able to:
- enroll in Adobe Education Exchange Courses,
- edit videos in Rush CC,
- create an online Spark blog with embedded video,
- upload videos to Vimeo or YouTube, and
- embed a Spark blog into Blackboard.
Full Course Guide: Click Here
Duration: 2 Credit Hours