UCD Digital Badge (for UCD staff only)
‘Teaching in Active and Collaborative Learning Spaces’
Introduction to the badge
In preparation for teaching in UCD Active Learning Environments (ALE) spaces, including the new UCD O’Connor Centre for Learning, this UCD T&L digital badge is a short, non-credit-bearing professional development opportunity. It aims to support UCD staff teaching, and their students' learning in these spaces. The badge is supported by these UCD T&L Active and Collaborative Learning webpage resources.
The time commitment for the digital badge is approx 25 hours in total (including all activities) (see 'Structure and Activities for the Badge' below) (In Autumn Trimester 2025, the 3-hour In-Person workshop will be the main contact time). The digital badge is facilitated and awarded by UCD Teaching & Learning. The badge is electronically held in the National Forum Open Badge Factory, but note that it is not a ‘National Forum Open Course Badge’.
The audience for the badge
The badge is aimed at UCD staff who teach in these ALE spaces, which includes, for example, UCD Faculty, academic staff, tutors, demonstrators, and professional staff who teach.
How to sign up
To register for the digital badge, you must book a place at the mandatory ‘Teaching in Active and Collaborative Learning Spaces’ half-day in-person workshop. Your workshop booking serves as your official registration.
Workshop Details
- Date: Thursday, 4th December 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- Location: An ALE room in UCD. (The specific venue will be confirmed with registered attendees closer to the date).
- To book, please visit: http://bit.ly/BookTLstaffevent.
How to claim the badge
On completion of the required outcomes by Tuesday, 3rd February, 2026 (see Assessment below), your name will be forwarded by UCD T&L to the National Forum, and you will receive a notification directly from the National Forum/HEA Open Factory.
UCD T&L Contact: geraldine.m.oneill@ucd.ie in 2025/2026
Learning outcomes/badge criteria
(These will be included in the digital badge's core metadata)
- To describe the value and challenges of active and collaborative learning, as evidenced by the literature.
- To discuss, with peers, a range of active and collaborative methods that support student learning in the ALE, i.e. think-pair-share, peer review, debates, group discussion, group work, debates, interactive in-class polls/quizzes, etc.
- To critique the ‘grand’ learning designs (i.e. problem, project, enquiry/research, case-based learning) and how activity in the ALE space is aligned with learning pre and post this experience, i.e. blended, flipped learning designs.
- To critically reflect on how you could design and implement one/two methods for more active and collaborative student learning in your discipline, in particular, how you would support and prepare students.
Structure and Activities for the Digital Badge
Pre-workshop reading
(Specified Learning based on these topics: 2 hours)
Introduction (webpage with videos)
- The evidence for active and collaborative learning
- The value and challenges with active learning
In-Person Workshop
(Contact hours: 3 hours)
Simple and Complex activities
i.e. Think pair share; Buzz Groups; Minute paper; Discussion groups; Peer Review; Interactive polls
Grand Designs
i.e. Problem based learning; Case based learning; Project based learning; Team-based Learning; Flipped Classroom; Blended designs
Student Advice for Students
Assessment
(Specified Learning: 10 hours approx)
Reflection on a planned activity (using template provided)
Self-study
(reading webpages and listening to video: 5 hours)
Individual reading on the topic
Assessment
(Evidence of achieving the digital badge)
You need to complete the four learning outcomes/criteria (above) for the badge through:
- participating in the 3-hour workshop and
- participating in all discussion forums in the workshop and
- submitting a prescribed session planning template (approx 800 words) by the final deadline (Tuesday, 3rd February, 2026) to Geraldine O’Neill, (geraldine.m.oneill@ucd.ie)
References
The resources, references, and videos for the badge (including the UCD student as partners resources) are primarily those on the UCD ‘Teaching in Active and Collaborative Learning’ webpages:
Participants can also draw on their own disciplinary or other relevant resources in this area.