Learning with Learning Design: Deep DIVE
Building on the interest of DIVE, the Baylor Learning Design Team created DEEP DIVE (Designing Instruction for Virtual Engagement), a six-week program for faculty to explore an in-depth learning experience focused on advancing their teaching skills across different modalities. Whether teaching in-person or online, this six-week program offers valuable insights and tools to help faculty discover their teaching strengths, engage students effectively, optimize learning outcomes, and create inclusive and engaging learning communities in all learning environments.
Deep DIVE
DIVE concentrates on the science of designing online courses, offering participants practical strategies and techniques for creating and teaching effective online courses. It encompasses systematic practices for designing courses that engage and educate students.
- Are you interested in ‘the how’ of teaching and learning? DIVE offers hands-on experiences for designing and building a course.
DEEP DIVE delves into the fundamental principles that underpin course design and teaching across different modalities. It goes beyond the 'how' and explores the 'why.' This program empowers educators to make more informed decisions and create courses that prioritize a student-centered approach.
- Are you interested in ‘the why’ of teaching and learning? DEEP DIVE explores your teaching strengths based on theoretical foundations.
DIVE and DEEP DIVE are not sequential courses, you may complete the courses based on your schedule and in your preferred order.
“The DEEP DIVE course was valuable to my professional growth and development in learning and focusing on theories and aspects of teaching developed in a way to enhance my growth and development while truly increasing the student learning and engaging environment.”
Facilitating the upcoming certification are:
- Dr. Chris Zakrzewski, Director of Learning Design
- Dr. Kayla Collins, Clinical Associate Professor and the Director of Curriculum for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program
- Chris Woods, Learning Experience Designer
Total Time: 30-35 hours over six weeks (about 5 hours per week).
- Apply to the program – priority acceptance will be granted to fifteen full-time faculty members, with any remaining spots available for part-time faculty.
- Complete six-week-long modules that include a 1-hour online synchronous discussion. The synchronous session attendance is required to be considered for acceptance into the program. These meetings will be held via Zoom on Thursdays from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Central Time in Spring 2026.
| Synch Sessions | Fall 2025 |
| Session 1: Discover Your Teaching Strength Across Modalities | January 29, 12-1 pm |
| Session 2: Designing for the Right Student Persona | February 5, 12-1 pm |
| Session 3: Designing Learning for All | February 12, 12-1 pm |
| Session 4: Community through the Power of Collaboration | February 19, 12-1 pm |
| Session 5: Future of Teaching | February 26, 12-1 pm |
| Session 6: Evaluating Quality for Effective Online Learning | March 5, 12-1 pm |
The DEEP DIVE program is designed especially for full-time faculty, but part-time faculty may participate on a “stand-by” basis. To ensure a quality experience for all we are limiting each cohort to 15 faculty members. Upon completion, participants will earn a Baylor DEEP DIVE Digital Badge of Completion through Credly.
To register for the Spring 2026 Deep DIVE cohort, please visit the Spring 2026 registration form.
If you have questions, please email the Learning Design team at learningdesign@baylor.edu.
If you are interested in DEEP DIVE, but unable to attend due to the date and time of the sessions, please email us at learningdesign@baylor.edu and we can add you to the waitlist for the next DEEP DIVE offering.
The DEEP DIVE course becomes available on the first day of class. The Spring 2026 cohort starts on Monday, January 19th. However, the course can be open and accessible prior to its scheduled start date. Participants will be notified via email when the course is accessible.
We will accept withdrawals from DEEP DIVE up until the first day of classes for the semester DEEP DIVE is offered. Due to the limited spots for the DEEP DIVE Certificate, we encourage you to complete the program once it starts. If you choose to withdraw after the start of the program, wait-listed faculty members will be disadvantaged and miss out on the DEEP DIVE offering.
Module 1: Discover Your Teaching Strength Across Modalities
Faculty will reflect on their current teaching practices across different modalities, identify areas for improvement, and create personalized teaching strength profiles that highlight their core competencies.
Module 2: Designing for the Right Student Persona
Participants will craft personalized learning experiences that cater to student needs, and adopt appropriate strategies for designing student-centered learning experiences.
Module 3: Designing Learning for All
Faculty will explore Universal Design for Learning principles to create accessible and equitable learning environments for all learners.
Module 4: Community through the Power of Collaboration
This module emphasizes the importance of fostering a strong community through effective collaborative activities, and encouraging meaningful interactions among students.
Module 5: Future of Teaching
Faculty will delve into innovative tools and emerging trends, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), gamification, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and more. They will discuss the rationale behind their choices of adopting the cutting-edge technologies and explore how these tools can enhance teaching effectiveness and elevate student engagement.
Module 6: Evaluating Quality for Effective Online Learning
Participants will assess the quality of their courses, ensuring continuous improvement and success in their teaching endeavors.