The University of San Carlos of Guatemala, a partner of the PROFXXI project, aims to provide training to its educators. Through the Division of Distance Education in Virtual Environments (DEDEV), they are offering a Diploma in Digital Teaching. This program is designed to help professors learn teaching techniques in digital environments and develop technopedagogical skills to enhance their performance in academic activities, ultimately leading to meaningful learning outcomes for their students. The Diploma is organized within the framework of the PROF-XXI project, which aims to develop management and innovation capabilities in higher education professionals in the 21st century.
The Diploma covers several key themes, including:
- The Web in the Classroom.
- Effective Communication in the Digital Classroom.
- Teaching and Assessing Using Digital Resources.
- Experiential Learning.
The Diploma is delivered in an open-virtual format. This means that the learning modules can be followed in any order based on the participants’ training needs and interests. Four different learning routes are offered, allowing participants to select the order in which they study the modules.
The program emphasizes a «learning by doing» approach, promoting practical application over theoretical knowledge. The learning activities are designed to help participants solidify and reinforce their knowledge through hands-on experience.
The Diploma is continuously assessed, with successful completion based on activities within the four learning modules. Each module consists of two activities, an assessment, and two live classes where participants can interact and delve deeper into the topics. The entire Diploma program lasts for eight weeks, with each module equivalent to 25% of the Diploma, or approximately 15 hours of academic work.
The launch of the Diploma received excellent acceptance within the teacher community. The available training spaces were quickly filled, leading to the scheduling of two cohorts: one from March to April and another from May to June. Each cohort includes an average of 400 educators.
This Diploma is part of DEDEV’s ongoing efforts to provide continuous education and updates, supported by the PROF-XXI project, to ensure that the community of teachers in Guatemala’s public higher education system remains up-to-date with innovations in education and technology for teaching. This training initiative complements the e-training opportunities offered by the Division since 2020.
