The proposed 15 semester hour Graduate Certificate in Adult Learning: Coaching and Facilitation offered by TWU Extension is specifically designed for the growing demand for online or hybrid learning professionals. This certification will enable learners to seek employment in the following areas:
This is a stand-alone certificate and the individual courses qualify as electives in the MA Leadership program.
Students who wish to ladder into the MA Leadership will be required to meet admissions requirements for the MA Leadership.
This program is well-suited for students who:
The program is flexibly designed as either a traditionally offered, full time program for learners interested in preparing for a role in FAR Centre Coaching and Facilitation, or as a fully online program for learners who are actively working as FAR Centre Coaches and Facilitators and are looking for a credential related to their roles.
Learners are introduced to principles and practices of adult education. Focusing on facilitation methods and instructional design, this course develops practical skills necessary to teach adults. Whether in a classroom, other formal learning context or workplace, the class will explore how leaders are all teachers. This course equips leaders to facilitate transformational learning experiences that are learner-centered, supportive, well-organized and based on critical inquiry in the context of practice.
On successfully completing this course, students should be able to:
Course Activities & Assessments
Assessment | Grade |
---|---|
Weekly Reading Responses | 50% |
Discussion Posts | 20% |
Adult Learning Design | 30% |
Learners will analyze personal cultural values and beliefs, expanding their cultural self-awareness and cultural competency. Learners will examine implicit biases in educational structures and processes, assess culturally-inclusive theoretical perspectives, analyze inclusive pedagogy, and explore global Indigenous perspectives on teaching and learning. Learners will develop and apply practical strategies to create culturally-inclusive learning environments and learning activities and establish and develop meaningful intercultural communication and relationships, applying coaching/facilitation skills to engage all learners in authentic learning experiences.
On successfully completing this course, students should be able to:
Assessment | Grade | Outcomes |
---|---|---|
Community of Inquiry (Discussions) | 20% | All |
Assignment 1: Culturally Inclusive Teaching and Learning – Interview | 20% | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Assignment 2: Culturally Inclusive Learning Spaces – Observation | 10% | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Assignment 3: Culturally Inclusive Learning Community Paper | 15% | 1, 2, 3 |
Assignment 4: Personalized Learning Plan | 10% | 1, 2 |
Assignment 5: Culturally Inclusive Lesson Plan | 25% | 4, 5, 6 |
Examines the theoretical foundations and professional practices of coaching learners in blended-learning environments with an emphasis on facilitating transformational learning experiences. The intersection of adult learning, educational technology, and international education thought is investigated in relation to the development of effective strategies for coaching learners within the emerging context of technologically distributed global higher education. Projects develop digital literacy skills, including the use of communication, collaboration and publishing tools; and media literacy, including knowledge of copyright, open licensing, and digital citizenship.
On successfully completing this course, students should be able to:
Assessment | Value | Outcomes |
---|---|---|
Weekly Learning Reflections Students will implement metacognitive strategies to reflect on each week's learning activities and assessments. Reflections will focus on consolidating new knowledge and extending it to different contexts and relevant personal applications. |
20% | All |
Syllabus Analysis Students will work with in cooperative groups to evaluate a syllabus and make recommendations for translating that syllabus into a dynamic active-learning environment. |
20% | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 |
Lesson Plan Design Working in cooperation with the local instructor of a FAR Centre course, students will design a lesson plan based on the instructions given in the FAR Centre course syllabus. |
10% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
Lesson Plan Presentation Students will work in cooperation with an instructor in the TWU International Degree Completion program to plan and present a full or partial face-to-face lesson (45-60 minutes). Follow up will include brief written observations from the host instructor and metacognitive reflection on both the planning and presentation of the lesson. |
20% | 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
Coaching Handbook This assignment requires students to work cooperatively with a small group of their colleagues to create an instructor handbook for a course. Students will use the actual syllabi and course materials from Liberal Arts core courses in various disciplines to research and record learning strategies, common misconceptions, related resources, and other aids for them and their colleagues to be able to effectively assist students working through the course materials. Student work in this course will be foundational and future course Facilitators will build on their work in future semesters. |
30% | All |
Learners explore theoretical foundations of learning communities, evaluate strategies for creating authentic learning communities, and apply those strategies in a learning/coaching context. Learners explore teaching and learning through the lens of personal transformation and then widen their lens to consider systems theory and challenges of leading for an authentic learning environment. Learners explore themes such as identity, perception, interconnectedness and learning organizations. Learners will develop a personal philosophy of Learning Communities, exploring what it means to be personally authentic and how to lead authentically in a learning environment.
On successfully completing this course, students should be able to:
Assessment | Grade | Outcomes |
---|---|---|
Community of Inquiry (Discussions) | 30% | All |
Assignment 1: Identity as a Teacher | 20% | 1, 2, 3 |
Assignment 2: Company Website Analysis | 20% | 6 |
Assignment 3: Platform Paper | 30% | All |
Using reflective practice, learners apply adult learning theory, assessment theory, facilitation practices, and cross-cultural competency, in a professional learning facilitation setting. The practicum is conducted with a supervised business, non-profit agency, social service agency, or institution related to the student’s personal interests and career goals. (include number of hours)
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
LEARNING ASSESSMENT | VALUE | OUTCOMES |
---|---|---|
Practicum Proposal | 10% | All |
Reflective Practice Discussions: (10) | 45% | 2-6 |
Lesson Plan 1: Authentic and Inclusive Learning | 10% | All |
Lesson Plan 2: Cross-Cultural Competency | 10% | All |
Lesson Plan 3: Critical and Creative Thinking | 10% | All |
Reflective Practice Practicum Portfolio | 15% | All |
As required for new program approval, the following courses are the result of an 'environmental scan' of existing courses that could overlap or complement the ones proposed. These are not prerequisites.
Graduates of this program deliver value to the educational market by having a sound foundation of skills and knowledge that assist them to seek work as facilitators and learning coaches in numerous multi-disciplinary hybrid educational settings, both locally and in other global locations. Graduates would also be well prepared to work in sectors beyond education supporting work-place change and training needs.