October 31, 2016

As online and blended learning continue moving into the mainstream of higher education – particularly among the new majority of adult students – Drexel remains at the forefront of innovation, having recently launched a pioneering new Post-Bachelor’s Certificate in Neuroscience, Learning and Online Instruction.

With its unique focus on the neuroscience of adult learning in the technology-enhanced environment, this interdisciplinary program provides an exceptional professional development opportunity for Drexel faculty members and graduate students, who teach or plan to teach online, in any field of study. Offered through the College of Nursing and Health Professions, as a collaborative venture with the School of Education, it consists of six courses, totaling 18 credits, and is eligible for university tuition benefits.

This fully online certificate program explores how the principles of neuroscience, cognitive processing and learning theory can be effectively used in designing and teaching online and blended coursework. And according to program developers, Karyn Holt, PhD, assistant clinical professor from CNHP and Kristen Betts, EdD, clinical professor in SoE, it also affords an opportunity to experience quality online education first-hand –a critical first step in understanding what it means to be an adult student.

“As experienced online faculty ourselves, we have both used the basic principles of neuroscience to promote better learning outcomes,” says Holt. “By knowing how the adult brain organizes, retains and applies information, or why health, emotion and social interaction are important to learning, we can create more targeted technology-enhanced learning, based on individual student needs.”

Betts also stresses the program’s emphasis on applied learning. “We’ve combined evidence-based research with real-world practice in a way that can be easily transferred into the online and blended courses our students are or will be teaching. For example, we have embedded plenty of hands-on learning activities for them to use in developing instructional and assessment artifacts for their own coursework.”

For more information about the Post-Bachelor’s Certificate in Neuroscience, Learning and Online Instruction, visit http://duo.online.drexel.edu/pbc-neuroscience-learning-online-instruction-due/. The deadline to apply for the winter 2017 term is November 28.