Harvard Bok Center Higher Education Teaching Certificate

Build the pedagogical, technological, and leadership skills needed to engage students, manage challenging classroom dynamics, and facilitate inclusive learning in today’s AI-integrated academic landscape.

6 weeks, excluding orientation

Designed by Harvard Bok Center Faculty

6–7 hours per week, entirely online

Live breakout sessions with fellow educators

On Completion of This Program,
You’ll Walk Away With:

1

The skills to deliver more memorable lessons and achieve measurable learning objectives, using proven frameworks like backward design and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

2

An understanding of how AI can be incorporated into workflows, managed through policies and boundaries, and used as a pedagogical tool.

3

A structured blueprint for high-impact teaching, including practical strategies for classroom management, communication, and mediation.

4

The confidence to navigate challenging classroom dynamics and the skills to facilitate inclusive learning in diverse educational settings.

Facilitate Learning in the Age of AI

Prepare for the modern classroom by connecting people, technology, and pedagogy in the age of AI. The six-week Harvard Bok Center Higher Education Teaching Certificate will prepare you to integrate AI as a pedagogical tool, manage challenging classroom dynamics with authority, and deliver memorable lessons rooted in proven frameworks. 

Designed for experienced higher education practitioners, this program will help you utilize proven instructional frameworks to make lessons more accessible, inclusive, and engaging in diverse classroom environments. 

Critically, this course emphasizes responsible and effective AI integration. You'll learn how to harness generative AI to streamline teaching and professional workflows; set clear and effective policies for AI use; and adapt your rubrics and assessments to be more AI-resilient.

You’ll study approaches for engaging diverse viewpoints in the classroom and learn practical strategies for classroom management and mediation. You’ll learn different approaches for encouraging active learning among your students, and you’ll practice implementing these techniques during live sessions. By the end of the course, you’ll have the confidence to lead discussions with authority. 

Through live sessions with fellow educators, you’ll explore how learning strategies can be applied in different real-world scenarios and participate in in-depth discussions. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with education practitioners from around the world and build your professional network.

This Course is for You if You Want To:

  • Utilize AI responsibly and effectively — Learn how to utilize AI as an assistant, not a replacement for your expertise. Promote authentic learning in an era of rapidly advancing technology. 

  • Foster inclusive learning environments — Implement Universal Design for Learning (UDL) frameworks to make your lessons more accessible and memorable. 

  • Build your communication skills — Strengthen your ability to build trust, establish expectations, and manage challenging classroom dynamics.

Course Curriculum

Module 1

Explore learning strategies that enhance student motivation, learning, and academic achievement.

Module 2

Use desired learning objectives to plan and ensure rigorous alignment across all lesson elements and assessments.

Module 3

Design a suitable lesson plan that includes learning objectives, activities and check-in opportunities.

Module 4

Learn how to transform your teaching environment into an inclusive community that can handle tough conversations.

Module 5

Learn how to develop robust assessment rubrics and provide actionable, fair feedback.

Your Course Convener

Rebecca Nesson, Instructor

Executive Director of the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning

Rebecca (Becca) Nesson became Executive Director of the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning in September 2025, bringing to the role her experience in academic leadership and teaching innovation across Harvard. 

As Dean of Academic Programs at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), she oversaw undergraduate concentrations, Ph.D. programs, professional master’s programs, and executive education while guiding major academic policy and program reviews. 

She had previously served as Associate Dean of the Harvard College Curriculum and as the inaugural Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning at the Division of Continuing Education, where she advanced active and hybrid learning at scale. A dedicated teacher as well as an administrator, she continues to teach courses ranging from large-scale classes in discrete mathematics to first-year seminars on justice and deliberation.

What is GetSmarter?

GetSmarter delivers online education from world-leading universities and institutions to transform the lives of thousands of students across the globe. GetSmarter’s online certificate courses are designed to advance your career and fit in with your busy lifestyle. Each course is expert-led, fully supported and community-based, helping you build career-critical skills. GetSmarter is owned by 2U.

An Online Education That Sets You Apart

This Harvard Bok Center online program is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter. Join a growing community of global professionals, and benefit from the opportunity to:

Develop relevant, sought-after skills and earn invaluable recognition from an international selection of universities, entirely online.

Enjoy a personalized, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step.

Gain verifiable and relevant competencies through a career-focused curriculum that achieves specific learning outcomes and skill gains.

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Want to know more?

Enter your information to access the course brochure and learn more about this course from GetSmarter.