Enrollment for Summer 2019 is now closed.
Matthew Miller
Sr. Lecturer on Education,
Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching
Matt Miller is a Senior Lecturer on Education and Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he has taught since 2006. He is also faculty chair of Harvard’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE), a leading residential institute for the professional development of higher education leaders. Miller is a co-author of An Everyone Culture (2016), an acclaimed study of organizations focused on the transformational learning of their members (known as "Deliberately Developmental Organizations"). More information on Dr. Miller is available on his HGSE faculty page.
Catherine Snow
Patricia Albjerg Graham
Professor of Education
Catherine Snow, the Patricia Albjerg Graham Professor of Education at HGSE, is an expert on language and literacy development in children and adolescents, focusing on how oral language skills are acquired and how they relate to literacy outcomes. Her current research activities include a study of how Boston Public School early childhood classrooms are supporting children's development and a long-standing research-practice partnership (the Strategic Education Research Partnership, SERP) that is developing curricular tools to support teachers in introducing innovative classroom practices. Word Generation, a discussion-based academic language and literacy program developed by SERP, has been shown to improve middle-school literacy outcomes, in particular for students from language-minority homes. More information on Professor Snow is available on her HGSE faculty page.
By the end of this course, students will understand that:
- Development is a lifelong process, with well-defined periods at the population level and variation at the individual level. Development is shaped by maturation, experience, and ecological factors.
- Learning is an active and interactive process, profoundly shaped by cognitive, affective, identity, interpersonal, social, cultural, organizational, and other structural factors.
- The desired endpoint of learning is a systemic, expandable, usable conceptualization of a knowledge domain.
- The principles underlying the design of excellent learning experiences are based on well-established and ongoing research related to the domains, people, conditions, and contexts involved in those experiences.
With these understandings, students will be able to:
- Exercise professional judgment in practice, program, and policy to provide better support for all developing learners.
- Identify how aspects of the nature of learning and development are implicated in authentic, personally-relevant professional problems or scenarios.
- Apply research-based insights on developmental and learning processes to analyzing learning experiences, policies, organizational changes, and/or other interventions.
- Shape their own professional identity by connecting theories and examples on learning, development, and the design of educational experiences to their own professional goals and aspirations.
HPL is composed of 6 modules, each focused on a cluster of interrelated topics. The modules are:
- Developmental Trajectories
- Cognitive Processes of Learning
- Learner Differences
- Relationships and Identities
- Domains and their Interconnections
- Designing for Learning
This course will take place over 8 weeks in the summer before students begin their residential experience at HGSE. The course will be offered twice, with different start and end dates.
Course 1 (F101A): June 12th - August 7th ENROLLMENT CLOSED
Course 2 (F101B): June 26th - August 21st ENROLLMENT CLOSED
To successfully complete the course, students should expect to dedicate 3-4 hours during an introductory orientation week and 10-15 hours on course activities and assignments during each of the content modules. Each module will be asynchronous, with deadlines for module deliverables at the end of the one-week period. This design is intended to maximize the quality of discussions and learner engagement while providing flexibility for individual schedules. Because some deliverables will require peer and teaching fellow review in a timely manner, we will not be able to accommodate late submissions at any point in the course.
HPL is in its pilot phase. There may be elements of the course that are not fully developed or do not work as intended. By participating in this pilot and providing feedback, you will become a co-creator of this experience for future students. You will be asked to provide thoughts and suggestions for improvement throughout the course, and this information will be vital to us in refining it for the future. All feedback and learner submissions will be confidential. Please see the application survey for more information about the research and feedback component of the HPL experience.
What are the dates for the HPL course?
HPL will be offered at two different times in summer 2019:
Course 1 (F101A): June 12th - August 7th
Course 2 (F101B): June 26th - August 21st
Who can participate in HPL?
Any incoming or returning HGSE Ed.M. student can apply to participate in HPL. Participation will be capped at 300 students (150 per course) due to the size of our teaching staff. During this experience, we hope that you will have the chance to engage with classmates who are in different programs of study, come from different personal and professional backgrounds, and have different worldviews than you.
When do I need to sign up by?
Enrollment for How People Learn has closed.
What time commitment is expected?
You should expect to spend 3-4 hours during HPL Orientation week, and 10-15 hours during each of the six content modules.
If I am busy during one of the weeks (due to vacation, etc.), can I make up the assignments the next week?
Due to the compressed time frame of a 4-credit summer experience we will not be able to accept late submissions. Throughout the course you will have access to a peer community and support from a Teaching Fellow who can advise on strategies for time management.
I am an international student. Can I still participate?
Yes! The majority of the pilot content is asynchronous, which means that time zones should not be a barrier to participation. Alternative video hosting will be provided in case YouTube is blocked in your country. Paper versions of interactive elements will be available for download in case of slow internet speeds.
I am a part-time new or returning student. Can I take part?
Yes!
I am going to be very busy this summer. Can I still participate?
Yes! However, there are firm deadlines for several course assignments and late submissions cannot be accepted. If you wish to participate in the HPL course, make sure you can allocate the time commitments outlined in this FAQ before signing up.
Will I get course credit for participating?
Yes! Successful completion of HPL will earn you four credits towards the completion of your degree.
Will taking this course count as one of the courses I need to graduate?
Yes! HPL is a four-credit course that counts towards the completion of your degree.
Is there any penalty if I do not complete the course?
Since HPL is offered for credit, not completing the course will carry the same penalty as not completing a residential course. The course will appear on your transcript with an indication that you did not receive credit (NCR = No Credit).
Does the HPL course cost anything?
There will not be additional tuition charges for HPL. Part-time students are billed by the course; thus, the four credits will be added to the Fall term charges.
What hardware and/or software do I need to access the course?
You can access HPL on any device — PC, laptop, or tablet — but use a PC or laptop for the best experience. You do not need any special software for this pilot, but we strongly recommend using the latest version of Chrome or Firefox as your web browser.
What platform is this course offered on?
HPL will be offered on the Open edX platform. You may be familiar with the edX platform from taking a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course). If you haven’t used edX before, don’t worry! Instructions and support will be provided during the HPL Orientation module.
Are there any facilitators for the pilot? Who are they, and what is their role?
Yes! Past Ed.M. students and current doctoral students will serve as Teaching Fellows for the HPL course. Their role will be to help you troubleshoot challenges, answer your questions, foster community and dialogue, and provide feedback on your assignment submissions.
What if I need support during the pilot?
We encourage students needing accommodations in instruction or evaluation to notify us early in their experience at HGSE. If you have a disability or health concern that may have some impact on your work in this pilot and for which you may require adjustments or accommodations, please contact Maritza Hernandez at maritza_hernandez@gse.harvard.edu. All inquiries and discussions about accommodations will remain private.
Will there be other chances to take the HPL course if I do not participate in the summer pilot?
Unfortunately we do not anticipate offering HPL during the Fall or Spring terms.
I have a question that wasn’t answered here. Who can I ask?
Please send all questions to HPL@gse.harvard.edu.