University of San Diego Offers Teachers’ Certificate Program in Mobile Technology Learning Skills

Smart phones, iPads and other emerging technologies are sure to be part of the classrooms of the future. Technology companies are reporting record breaking sales of portable and tablet computing devices to schools.

Teachers and administrators can be the first in their schools and districts to learn how to facilitate teaching and learning with mobile technologies through a new online certificate program beginning this fall at the University of San Diego.

“This program will provide K-12 teachers and administrators with everything they need to plan, deliver and assess effective learning and teaching in a mobile technology learning environment,” said Jason Lemon, dean of Professional and Continuing Education at USD. “Educators can access each online course in this affordable program when it’s convenient for them and will learn how to enhance the learning experience with their students through effective analysis and integration of new teaching strategies that make the most of technology. use social media to foster communication, and employ a variety of tools and metrics to evaluate their success in improving and accelerating learning.”

Courses will be created and taught by faculty who are accomplished and experienced professors of mobile technology. Earlier this year, USD’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences announced the creation of a Mobile Technology Learning Center to conduct cutting-edge research on mobile technology and learning. “Our research-based certificate program is like no other as each course is guaranteed to foster the latest methods and technologies of learning and teaching with the use of mobile devices,” adds Rich Thome, director of the Educational Leadership Development Academy.

“Digital Literacy for Teachers and Leaders” is the first course in the four-course certificate program. In addition to learning the digital literacy skills and obtaining technical expertise to implement a program, teachers will undertake a capstone project to create a lesson engaging students in the use of a mobile device to build knowledge. The other two-month courses are “Social Media for Teaching and Learning,” “Student-Centered Learning with Mobile Technology,” and “Leadership of Digital Environments.”

Registration is now open for the first course that begins Sept. 5 and costs $495. Information and registration is available at www.usd-online.org or contact us at (619) 260-4585 or continuinged@sandiego.edu USD’s Mobile Technology Learning Center will also offer a Train the Trainer version of the program for schools and districts, allowing them to produce a comprehensive mobile technology plan and receive significant savings on tuition.

The University of San Diego is a Catholic institution of higher learning chartered in 1949; the school enrolls some 7,800 undergraduate and graduate students and is known for its commitment to teaching, the liberal arts, the formation of values, and creating changemakers. The fall 2007 establishment of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies brings the University's total number of schools and colleges to six. Other academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences and the schools of Business Administration, Leadership and Education Sciences, Law and Nursing and Health Sciences.

About the University of San Diego

The University of San Diego sets the standard for an engaged, contemporary Catholic university where innovative Changemakers confront humanity’s urgent challenges. With more than 9,000 students from 69 countries and 50 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. The university's eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. USD's Envisioning 2024 strategic plan capitalizes on the university’s recent progress and aligns new strategic goals with current strengths to help shape a vision for the future as the university looks ahead to its 75th anniversary in the year 2024.