MissionStatement
Harvard’sOfficeoftheViceProvostforAdvancesinLearning(VPAL)seeksto shapethefutureofeducationbydiscoveringnewwaystobuildthecompetence, curiosity,andconfidenceoflearnersonourcampusesandaroundtheworld.We createengagingandscalablelearningexperiences,cultivateinspiringideas,and connectaglobalcommunityoflearnerswhiledevelopingtools,technologies, platforms,andpoliciestoreducefrictionthroughoutthelearninglifecycle.
Thecloseofthe2024–25academicyearoffersanaturalmomentfor reflectiononbothwhatwehaveachievedtogetherandwhatlies ahead.Italsobringspersonalnews:Iwillbeconcludingmytenureas ViceProvostforAdvancesinLearning(VPAL)atHarvardasI transitiontoanewleadershiprole.Thischangeisbittersweet,butit ismadeeasierbytheprideIfeelinwhatwehaveaccomplishedasa community.
WhenIsteppedintothisrolein2018,themissionwasclear:to strengthenHarvard’sleadershipinteachingandlearningby embracingtechnologywhilepreservingourtraditionsofacademic excellence.Bythen,VPAL’sHarvardXteamhadlaunchedalarge catalogofMOOCcourses,andHarvard’sinvestmentinedXhad triggeredfollow-oninnovationsinonlinelearningacrossthe University(includingHBSOnline,HMX,HKS’sPublicLeadershipCredential,andHLS’sZero-L, amongothers).WeredefinedourchargeasexpandingHarvard’sreachwhilesimultaneouslydeepening learnerengagement,bothoncampusandacrosstheglobe.Ourguidingquestionwashowtoachieve “engagementatscale.”
Thatmissionwastestedalmostimmediately.TheCOVID-19pandemic createdenormouschallengesforhighereducation,butitalsosparked extraordinaryinnovation.VPALhelpedleadHarvard’srapidtransition toremotelearning.WelaunchedTeachRemotelyasaresourcehubfor facultynotonlyatHarvardbutworldwide.Weworkedside-by-side withfacultyandstaff,conveninggroupsacrossHarvardformorethan ayeartosharebestpractices,inspireinnovation,andaddressemerging challenges.Comingoutofthepandemic,weledaHarvard-widetask forcetocapturetheinnovationsthathademergedandtocreatea blueprintforthefutureofteachingandlearning.Thissurfaceddurable lessons:thatdigitalclassroomscanfosterpeer-to-peerconnection,that modularshort-formcontentcanenrichthelearningexperience,and thattechnologycanexpandcommunityglobally.
Ouractionsbuiltontherecommendationsofthisreport,reimagined earlierefforts,andaddressedemergingtrendsandchallenges:
•Innovationanddiversification.Wedevelopednewcourseformatsandlearnerexperiences,created Harvard-wideonlineseriesonbigthemes(DataandDigitalTransformation;HealthCareLeadership), andlaunchedflexibleshort-formofferings.OurMOOCportfoliogrewandstrengthened.Through thesaleoftheedXplatform,wehelpedconceptualizeAxim,thenonprofitsuccessordedicatedto educationalaccess.Thepromisefortomorrowliesinmeetinglearnerswheretheyare,ratherthan beingconstrainedbyplaceorspace.
•Leadershipattheintersectionoftechnologyandpedagogy.WecreatedaUniversity-wide learningexperienceplatform—theHarvardLXP—nowadoptedbysixHarvardSchoolsina distinctiveexpressionofOneHarvardefforts.Itsupportspre-matriculationprograms, executiveeducation,hybridcourses,andmore.Withseamlessintegrationbetween synchronousandasynchronousexperiences,theplatformhashostedover25programsand 7,500enrollments,redefiningwhatresidential,online,andblendedlearningcanlooklike. Beyonddigitallearning,wealsoledtheUniversityworkinggrouponGenerativeAIsince 2023,andlaunchedtheFacultyVoicesseries.
•Communityandcollaboration.Weexpandedthesharingofbestpracticesthroughour ColleagueConversationsandonlineseminars.TheannualconferenceorganizedbyHILT (foundedin2011throughagenerousgiftfromGustaveandRitaHausertoadvance residentialteachingandlearningefforts)remainsHarvard’scentralforumforpedagogical innovation.Thispastyearitaddressedthechallengeofopeninquiryanddifficult conversations,atopicwehadearlieradvancedthroughaUniversity-wideworkinggroup thatinformedsubsequenttaskforces.Morethan280facultyandstaffparticipatedinthis year’sconference,underscoringtheimportanceofhonest,robustdialogue.
Theresultsoftheseeffortsaretangible:Harvard’sgloballearnercommunityhasgrownto33 million;VPALrevenuesincreasedmorethan400%since2018;andwenowhaveastate-of-the-art platformandacultureofcollaborationthatembodythespiritofOneHarvard.
Noneofthiswouldhavebeenpossiblewithoutthecreativity,dedication,andleadershipofour VPALteamandourpartnersacrossHarvard’sSchools.Theprogresswehavemadeonallthese frontsreflectsaspirationinvisionanddesign,thoughtfulnessinexecution,andaboveall,collective action.
AsIpreparetopassthebaton,Idoso withconfidenceandgratitude.My colleagueandfriendProfessorDustin TingleywillserveasinterimVice Provost,andwerecruitedMichael Fenlonthispastyeartoserveas ExecutiveDirectorofVPAL.Iknowthey willcontinuetoguideVPALwithenergy anddedication.Togetherwithallmy VPALcolleagues,withwhomithasbeen mygreatestprivilegetoworkalongside andlead,wehaveredefinedwhatonline andblendededucationcanmean— advancingpedagogy,technology,and engagementatscale.Muchwork remains,butthefoundationisstrong, andthepathforwardisbright.
ViceProvostAnandandCIOKlaraJelinkovaspeakattheGenAISymposium,
Thankyouforyoursupport,partnership,and trustoverthesepastyears.Ithasbeenan honortoservealongsideyou.
Withprofoundgratitude,
BharatAnand ViceProvostforAdvancesinLearning,HarvardUniversity
VPALLeadership
InterimViceProvost
ExecutiveDirector
ThomasD.CabotProfessorofPublicPolicyDustinTingley willtakethehelmofVPALinAugust2025asInterimVice Provost.WithajointappointmentattheHarvardKennedy SchoolofPublicPolicyandtheFASDepartmentof Government,DustinhasalsobeenservingasVPAL’sDeputy ViceProvostsince2018andhasbeenapartofVPALsince 2015.InhistimeatVPAL,hehashelpedtoleadUniversitywideconvenings,taskforces,andpolicies,overseen technologyinnovationandinvestments,andhelpedtoguide VPAL’sdigitallearningportfolio.
Dustin’sresearchspansinternationalrelations,international politicaleconomy,energyandclimatechange,causalinference, datascience/machinelearning,anddigitaleducation.
Anaward-winningauthorandeducator,Dustinalsochairs Harvard'sStandingCommitteeonClimateEducationandcochairstheHarvardStandingCommitteeonPublicServiceand EngagedScholarship.HeisFacultyDirectorfortheVPAL DataScienceandTechnologyGroup(Harvardhigher educationdatasciencegroup),andFacultyDirectorforthe HarvardInitiativeforLearning&Teaching(HILT).
HereceivedaPhDinPoliticsfromPrincetonandBAfromthe UniversityofRochester(PoliticalScienceandMath).
VPALwelcomedMichaelFenlon,PhD,asExecutiveDirector inMarch2025.Mikeisanaccomplishedseniorleaderwith extensiveexperienceinleadingworkforcestrategiestailored forthedigitaleconomy.Hehasatrackrecordofstrategic innovation,designinglearningstrategiesanddigitalupskilling, anddeliveringhumancapitalandbusinessoutcomesinUS, global,andC-suiteleadershiprolesatPwC,oneofthelargest professionalservicesfirmsintheworld.Hehasadvisedsenior leadersinbusinessandhighereducationonthefutureofwork andlearning,leadershipdevelopment,AI,andworkforce transformation.
BeforejoiningPwC,Mikewasafacultymemberanddirected programsinColumbiaBusinessSchoolexecutiveeducation.As AssociateDean,heledtheirExecutiveMBAdegreeprograms inNewYork,andjointprogramswithLondonBusinessSchool andHaasUC-Berkeley,andtaughtcoursesonExecutive Leadership.
MikeearnedaPhDandthreemaster’sdegreesfromColumbia Universityandabachelor’sdegreeattheUniversityof Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
KeyFigures
VPALcontinuestogrowourlearneraudienceandour capacities,addingsixnewcourses—includingshort-form content—toourcatalogthisyear,drawnfromover200film shoots.WithtotalenrollmentsfortheperiodofJuly2024 throughJune2025hittingjustover4.3million,we’veseenour cumulativeenrollmentssinceedXwaslaunchedin2012hit over38million.Withoverthree-quartersofamillionlearners earningcertificates,ourimpactonlearnergrowthhasnever beengreater,andwe’reproudtoseethecommunityof HarvardOnlinelearnersgrow,includinghittingamilestoneof 100,000Instagramfollowersthisyear.
OpenInquiryand ConstructiveDialogue
Overthepastfewyears,VPALhastakenaleadingroleincoordinating University-wideconversationsaroundfreedomofexpressionandacademic freedom,withafocusonconveningUniversityleaderstodiscusshowbestto facilitaterigorousdiscourseacrossourcommunity.
EffortswereformalizedinAugust2022withtheEnablingDifficult Conversationsfacultygroup,whichorganizedtheApril2023Harvard-wide DialogueonStrengtheningAcademicFreedom,FosteringIntellectual Vitality,andEnablingDifficultConversations.InJanuary2024,VPALcoordinatedHarvard’sparticipation intheDialogue&ActionPanelSerieswithpeeruniversitiesacrosstheBostonarea.Thisworkledintothe University’sHarvardDialogueseventseriesandtheOpenInquiryandConstructiveDialogueWorking Group,whosefinalreportwaspublishedinOctober2024.
HILTConference2024
TheHarvardInitiativeforLearning&Teaching(HILT) presentedthe13thannualHILTConferencecenteredonthe theme“OpenMindsinDialogue,”focusingonchallengesto inquiryandhowbesttofosteropen,rigorousconversationsin academicsettings.
Participantsengagedininteractiveworkshops,thoughtprovokinginsights,andinspiringdiscussionsdesignedto grapplewithhardchallengesencounteredinourclassrooms, andtoexploreeffectivetoolsandpedagogicalapproachesfor engaginginmeaningful,impactfuldialogueinourclassrooms.
HILTConferencebytheNumbers… attendees
feltveryengagedinUniversity-leveldialogue
feltstronglythatsessionsprovideduseful, actionableexamples
wereabletoatleastsomewhatextendtheir network
Theeventbeganwithtwomorningplenarysessions:“HowDidWe GetHere?”—whichkickedoffwithabrieflecturefrom distinguishedhistorianJillLeporebeforeafacultypanel moderatedbyDeanRakeshKhurana—followedby“WhatWould YouDo?”,aninteractivesessionusingbriefcasestoexplorereal-life dilemmas,moderatedbyViceProvostBharatAnand.Both sessionswereappreciatedforthebalanceofengaginglecture contentandanapplied,action-orientedapproach.
Prof.JillLeporespeaksduringthemorningplenary
DeansRakeshKhurana,AmandaClaybaugh,andBernardChangspeak duringthemorningplenary
Afternoonbreakoutsessionsincluded “CreatingEffectiveSocialContracts,” “LeveragingTechnologiestoGive EveryoneaVoice,”“OpenDialogue WithinandAcrossDisciplines,”“Small MovesforBigTopics:Transforming HardConversationsintoLearning Opportunities,”and“Student Perspectives:FromLivedExperienceto CriticalEngagement.”Thesessions receivedpraiseforthewealthof knowledgepresentedandfor providingusefulresources.
MPAgraduatePratyushRawalspeaksduringthebreakout sessionon“StudentPerspectives”
TheConferenceledtotwofollow-onevents:
•“BuildingStudents’AbilitytoDriveTheir Learning:ThePracticeandTheoryofthe QuestionFormulationTechnique”
•“InterrogatingandSupportingPsychological SafetyinLearning”
KarinaLin-Murphy,AssociateDirectorofCourseDesignand PedagogicalInnovationatHBS,speaksduringthebreakoutsession on“SmallMovesforBigTopics”
OpenInquiryand ConstructiveDialogue
OpenInquiryandConstructiveDialogue(OICD)NegotiationsSeminar
InMarch2025,HILTconvenedtheOpenInquiryandConstructiveDialogue(OICD)Negotiations SeminarincollaborationwithEricBeerbohm,AlfredandRebeccaLinProfessorofGovernmentand DirectoroftheEdmond&LilySafraCenterforEthics(FAS).
Theeventfeaturedinsightfulpresentations fromrenownedfaculty,whoshared innovativeteachingmethodsand frameworks—suchastheHEARmethodand theuseoftoolslikeDebateMateandTango— toimprovenegotiationskillsandfoster productivediscussions.Byemphasizingthe importanceofactivelearningand conversationalreceptiveness,theseminar offeredvaluablestrategiesapplicableacross disciplines,addressingthechallengesof engaginginsensitiveordivisivetopics.
SlidefromProf.SheilaHeen’spresentationon“DifficultConversationsinPolarizedTimes”
SpeakersincludedKesselyHong,SeniorLecturerinPublicPolicyandFacultyChairoftheMPAProgram(HKS); SheilaHeen,ThaddeusR.BealProfessorofPracticeandDirectoroftheNegotiationWorkshop(HLS);Julia Minson,AssociateProfessorofPublicPolicy(HKS);andJoshuaGreene,ProfessorofPsychology(FAS).
NewedXCourseonCriticalThinking
InNovember2024,HarvardXlaunchedanewfreeonline courseontopicsrelatedtotheOpenInquiryandConstructive Dialoguework:
StructureandFunctionofArgument:IntroductiontoCritical Thinking
•LedbyNormanE.VuilleumierProfessorofPhilosophyNed Hall(FacultyofArts&Sciences)
Thiscourse,ledbyProfessorHallandtheThinkerAnalytix team,developslogicandcriticalthinkingskillsandteaches peopletounderstandargumentsencounteredinoursocialand professionalcircles.Learnersengageindynamicpractice exercisestodeveloptheabilitytorecognize,analyze,and constructarguments.Theyalsotestlisteningskillsby recognizinghowthingslikelogicalfallacies,conflictingpoints ofview,andcontroversialsubjectscanimpacteffective communication.Bytheendofthecourse,learnerswillhavea toolkittoengageinmoreconstructiveconversationsand activelistening.
GenerativeAI
VPALhasplayedakeyroleinconveningleaders,gatheringresources,andsharingtipsandtechniquesforthe useofgenerativeartificialintelligenceinhighereducation.
GenAISymposium
VPALpartneredwiththeDigitalDataDesignInstituteatHarvard(D^3),theOfficeoftheViceProvostfor Research,theFacultyofArts&Sciences,theHarvardJohnA.PaulsonSchoolofEngineering&Applied Sciences,HarvardUniversityInformationTechnology,andtheHarvardLibrarytoofferaUniversity-wide symposiumonMay13,2025,onthepotentialandimplicationsofGenerativeAItechnologiesinteaching, learning,operations,andresearch.
Over900Harvardfaculty,staff,andstudentsregisteredtoattendthehalf-dayevent.
Facultypanelsontopicsincluding“GenerativeAIandtheFutureofLearningatHarvard”and“Perspectiveson GenAIAcrossHarvard”complementedbreakoutsessionsontopicsincluding“TeachingwithChatbots,” “RethinkingAssessmentsinaGenAIWorld,”“Regulation,Compliance,andEthicsofGenAI,”and“UsingAIto AddressGlobalChallenges.”ThedayendedwithaseriesoflightningtalksfromCollegeundergraduatesanda keynoteaddressbyProfessorKarimLakhani.
TheeventbuiltonVPAL’scommitmenttoengagingwithfaculty,staff,andstudentsontheopportunitiesand challengesofworkingwithGenAIthroughtheGenAITaskForce.
GenerativeAI
FacultyVoicesGenAIVideoLibrary
TheUniversity-wideGenerativeAI@Harvardwebsite continuestoserveasacriticalresourceforcoordinating effortsandsharingresourcesacrosstheSchools.The VPAL-producedfacultyvideosfoundwithinthe HarvardGenAILibraryforTeachingandLearninghave reachedover7.8Kinterestedlearnerssincethesite launchedinJanuary2024,sharingtheexpertiseand experimentationofHarvardfacultywhouseGenerative AItoolstosupportandenhanceteaching,learning,and research.
Inthesummerof2024,HILTpilotedaGenerative ArtificialIntelligence(GenAI)inTeaching& LearningAffinityGroupforHarvardaffiliateswho wereseekingtoattendsmall,regularmeetingsfor sharingresources,successes,andchallengesaround theintegrationofGenAIintoteachingandlearning.
AfterpilotingthreevirtualmeetingsfromJuneto Augustforover200attendees,theHILTteam recruitedco-chairsfromtheTeachingandLearning Consortium(TLC)toformalizeanewAffinity Groupinresponsetocurrentneeds.
Courses
Highlights
200 learnersenrolled inthefirstwaveof Outsmarting ImplicitBiasinits publiclaunchin September2024
5X increasein signedB2B partnerships, spanning12 countriesand5 continents
33% growthin premium learners
NewHarvardXCourses
5 ofVPAL’shighest enrolledcourse wavesever 10/13 courseshad theirhighest enrolledwaves inFY25
3K+ customersupport casesresolved acrossallcourses, with44%handled byHarvardXand VPALProgram ServicesTeams
VPALlaunchedfournewcoursesontheedXplatformin2024–25,includingStructure andFunctionofArgument(p.9)and:
FamilyEngagementinEducation:TheDual Capacity-BuildingFramework
•LedbyProfessorofPracticeKarenMapp (HarvardGraduateSchoolofEducation)
SocialEntrepreneurshipandSystems Change
•LedbyWilliamHenryBloombergSenior LecturerofBusinessAdministrationBrian Trelstad(HarvardBusinessSchool)
TheReturnofChina
•LedbyT.M.ChangProfessorofChina StudiesandSpanglerFamilyProfessorof BusinessAdministrationWilliamC.Kirby (FacultyofArts&SciencesandHarvard BusinessSchool),CharlesH.Carswell ProfessorofEastAsianLanguages& CivilizationsPeterK.Bol(FacultyofArts& Sciences),andAssistantProfessorofHistory YiLu(DartmouthCollege)
IllustrationsfromtheedXCourse“SocialEntrepreneurshipandSystemsChange” ALookAhead
Followingarobustorganizationalassessment,VPALishardatworkidentifyingkeynewareasfor contentdevelopment.Newcoursesontopicsincludingadaptiveleadership,writing,innovation,and strategicfinanceforpublicleadersareindevelopment.Additionally—withthesupportofdonorsNicole SinekArnaboldiAB’80,JD’84,MBA’84andLeoPeterArnaboldiJD’84—coursesonleadershipand negotiationinthecontextofclimatechangearetakingshape.Wearealsoinearlystagesofaplanninga multiple-schoolAI‘Academy’ofshortcoursesthatwillcombinetechnicaltopicswithAI-alignedhuman skills.Welookforwardtobringingthesecoursestolearnerssoon.
Courses
InternationalPartnerships
VPALworkedwiththeInstitutodeTecnologíasdelaFundación(ITF)tolaunchapilotprogram withBeneméritaUniversidadAutónomadePuebla(BUAP),supportingover200womenin technologyinMexico.Throughthisinitiative,HarvardXDataSciencecontentwasdeliveredina structuredhybridmodel,combiningasynchronousmodulesandsynchronouslearnersupport.
FeedbackhighlightedthepositiveimpactofmakingHarvardXcontentaccessibleinnewcontexts, aswellaskeyopportunitiesforgrowth.VPALiscontinuingtoworkwithanumberofleading businessesandinstitutionsaspartofourefforttobroadenanddeepenourimpact.
TheFutureofShortForm
ThepubliclaunchofOutsmartingImplicitBiasinfall2024 markedanewphaseofthedevelopmentofpremiumVPAL courses,focusingoninnovativeshort-formlearningexperiences.
Infall2025wewilllaunchthenextseriesofshort-formcourses —PowerSkillsforCareerGrowth—featuringstarHarvardfaculty inconversationwithsuperstarcelebrityguests,including:How toBringtheRealYoutoWorkwithProf.HenryLouisGates,Jr. (FAS)andCynthiaErivo;CriticalThinkingintheAgeof AlgorithmsandAIwithProf.MichaelSandel(FAS)andMichael B.Jordan;Purpose,Perspective,andPersuasionwithProf.Jody Freeman(HLS)andAmyPoehler;BuildingaWinningMindset withProf.LuanaMarques(HMS)andJohnCena;Cultivating PowerforPositiveImpactwithProf.JulieBattilana(HKS)and KekePalmer;DisagreeingProductivelyandCollaboratingWell withProf.JuliaMinson(HKS)andJackAntonoff;andEffective WritingforBiggerImpactwithProf.ToddRogers(HKS)and IlanaGlazer.
EngagingwithHighSchoolAudiences
VPALissupportingsecondaryschooleducationthrough targetedcollaborationwithteachersandinstitutions.In additiontotheaward-winningLabXchangeplatformforK-12 scienceeducation,HarvardOnlineisdevelopingawriting courseforhighschoollearnersandhasalsopiloteda collaborationwithalocalhighschoolinConnecticutto facilitatethetestingofinnovativepedagogicaltools.
CS50ConnectingwithEducators
TheblockbusterCS50xcourseseriescontinuesitsoutreachtosecondaryschoollearnersthrough eventslikePuzzleDay—withover12Kparticipants—andprogramslikeCS50forEducators, whichhastrainedover2KeducatorsthroughliveworkshopsfromHarvard,andthrough internationalpartnerships,includingwiththeMinistryofEducationofIndonesia.The2025 CS50EducatorWorkshopreachededucatorsfromover45citiesand18countries,helpingthem preparefortheupcomingacademicyearofteachingAPComputerScience,resultinginover40 teachersbecomingCS50AP-certified.
LearningExperiencePlatform
PublicLaunchoftheLXP
InJanuary2025,morethan120peoplejoinedVPAL—alongwithpartnersHUITandHBS—to celebratethepubliclaunchofHarvard’sinnovativenewLearningExperiencePlatform(LXP). Programleaderssharedsuccessstories,toutingtheLXP’smodularity,flexibility,interactivity, innovation,andconsolidationofeffortsfromacrosstheSchools.
GrowthoftheLXP
Sincethe“soft”launchoftheLXPinJune2023,theLXPhasservedover7.5Klearners, supporting25coursesandprogramswithsixHarvardSchoolsandUnits,includingFAS,HBS, HLS,HKS,HSDM,andVPAL.FiveadditionalSchoolsareworkingwithVPALandHUITto developanadditional50+coursesandprogramsforlaunchinthenearfuture.
TheLXPisfindingprogrammaticuseacross:
•Asynchronousnon-degree(Professional&LifelongLearning)programs
•ExecutiveEducationprograms
•Orientationandpre-matriculationcourses
•Supplementalonlineprogrammingforresidentialdegreestudents
•HumanResourcestraining
LearningExperiencePlatform CollegeOrientation
InSummer2024,allincomingfirst-yearHarvardCollegestudentscompletedtheSummer OrientationtoAcademicsatHarvard—athree-part,90-minutemoduleontheLXPdevelopedin collaborationwiththeOfficeofUndergraduateEducation.Thislearningexperiencewelcomed studentstoconsidertheirintellectuallifeatHarvardandpreparedthemtodiscussandselect courseswiththeiradvisors,andrepresentsthefirstcriticalintersectionbetweentheLXPand residentiallearningatHarvard.
Inspring2025,VPALcollaboratedwiththeDeanofStudents’Officetodevelopan hour-longmoduleforincomingstudentsonLivinginCommunity.Thismodulewill launchontheLXPinAugust2025andwillpreparestudentsforlivingindormitories, participatinginco-curricularandextracurricularactivities,andunderstandingthe importanceofcuriosityandcareasOneCrimsonvalues.
BuildingCommunity SignatureEvents
VPALhostedfourcross-Universityliveeventsfor373attendeesonadiverserangeoftopics, featuringfivefacultyfromacrossHarvardSchools:
•“TheGoodLife:OnPreparingYoungPeopletoLeadMoralandMeaningfulLives”with RichardWeissbourd(HGSE)
•“RethinkingAmericanIndianMentalHealthServices:ExplorationsinAlter-NativePsy-ence” withJosephGone(FAS)
•“MarryingHumanandArtificialIntelligenceforSocialandPersonalImpact”withTedLadd (DCE)andMilindTambe(SEAS)
•“AreWeAllGigWorkersNow?”withRachelMeyer(FAS)
ColleagueConversations
Over100attendees participatedinHILT ColleagueConversations ledbyHarvardteaching experts.Topicsranged fromGenAI,Education Innovation,and ClassroomSocial Compacts,toEffective Storytelling,Short-form Learning,andStudent Writing.
Hostsincluded:
•BharatAnand(VPAL)
•MaryGodfrey(VPAL)
•MayaJasanoff(FAS)
•KarinaLin-Murphy(HBS)
•LoganMcCarty(FAS)
•SebastianSchmidtDalzon (GSD)
•KarenThornber(FAS)
•NickWilson(HILT/VPAL)
Thankyouforthe stimulatingconversation. I’velearnedalotfrom eachofyou.
TeachingandLearningConsortium
ViceProvostAnandandhisColleague Conversationparticipants
Thankyoufororchestratinga dynamicdiscussion(oneinwhichI spokefartoomuch).Wedidn'twant tostop.Iverymuchappreciatethe mixofperspectivestheseHILT gatheringsprovide.Ihopethe conversationcancontinue.
TheHILTTeachingandLearningConsortium(TLC)isaUniversity-wide, participant-drivenorganizationofover55selectedacademicprofessional staffwholeadandprovideinstructionalsupportintheirrespectiveSchool orUniversityunits.In2024–25,theirmeetingscoveredtopicsincluding: crowdsourcingprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesacrossthe University;utilizingandcontributingtoHarvardDisabilityResources;and lightningroundsspotlightinginnovativeworksinprogressacrossthe teachingandlearningcenters.
BuildingCommunity TeachingandLearningAffinityGroups
TheTLCnetworkconvenesAffinityGroupsaroundsharedteachingandlearninginterestsand professionalobjectives.Over1,600membersinfiveAffinityGroupsmeetregularlythroughoutthe year,organizedaround“LearningData&Analytics,”“LearningDesign,”“LearningSpaces,” “Research-InformedTeaching&Learning,”and—newin2024—“GenAIinTeaching&Learning.”
HarvardOnline
RCCH–Pre-TextsWorkshop
InApril2025,HILTco-sponsoredatargetedworkshopwiththe RealColegioComplutenseatHarvard,“FromTexttoTalk:Creative TeachingConversationwithPre-Texts.”Inthisinteractive workshop,participantsengageddirectlywiththePre-Texts methodology—apracticethatusescreative,arts-basedapproachesto facilitateopen,imaginative,andreflectiveconversationsaround challengingtexts.
Theworkshopexploredhowthismethodcultivatesarangeofskills thatsupportdeeperlearning,collaboration,andcriticalengagement intheclassroom.Participantsleftwithconcretestrategiesto integratePre-Textsintotheirowneducationalenvironments,aiming tocreatemoreopenandreflectiveteachingcommunities.
TheHarvardOnlineInstagramchannelhitthemilestoneof over100Ksubscribersthisyear—illustratingtheimpactand reachofourglobalnetworkoflearners.ThroughHarvard Online—VPAL’sexpertlyproducedseriesofpremiumcourses forindividualandcorporatelearners—participantsconnect andengagewithlike-mindedstudentsfromaroundtheworld seekingHarvard’spedagogicalexpertise.
Over8KpeopleattendedsixHarvardOnlinewebinarswith facultyexpertsontopicsincluding“LeadingintheAgeofAI andCybersecurity,”“LeadershipLessonsforTimesof Uncertainty,”and“HarnessingAIinBusiness.”
WehavebeenhardatworkdesigninganewHarvard Onlinewebsitewithastate-of-the-artinterfaceto improvethelearnerexperience,increasevisibility acrossourportfolioofcontent,andmakeiteasierfor organizationstoengagewithusonstrategic partnerships.Thisnewsite—andaccompanyingbrand visualredesign—willlaunchinAugust2025.
VPALTeam
GrowingtheTeam
InadditiontoournewVPALExecutiveDirector,VPALwelcomednewteammembersinthe InstructionalDesign,DataScienceandTechnology,andProgramServicesteams.
LabXchangeSuccesses
LabXchangewasawinneratthe4thAnnualAnthem Awards!TheywonaGoldAwardintheResponsible TechnologyCategory,whichhighlightsplatformsor projectsthataimtoaddresseducationalneedsthrough innovativeandresponsibleusesoftechnology.
TheirRacialDiversity,Equity,andInclusionScienceEducation(RDEISE)projectwontheSilverin theDiversity,Equity&Inclusioncategory.TheyalsoreceivedanAnthemCommunityVoice Award.TheAnthemAwardshonorthepurposeandmission-drivenworkofpeople,companies, andorganizationsworldwide.
HonoringaHarvardHero
VPAL’sownZacWang—DirectorofStrategicTechnology—wasoneof65staffershonoredasa HarvardHerofor“exemplary”servicetotheUniversity’smissionin2025.Nominatedandselected bypeersfromacrosstheUniversity,WangwashonoredbyHarvardPresidentAlanM.Garberin aneventinJune.ForhisworklaunchingtheLXP,Garbersaid:“Yourtirelesseffortsare revolutionizingteachingandlearningUniversity-wide.”
IMAGECREDITS
PhotosofHILTConference(coverandpp.7–8),SusanYoung;ArgumentedXcourseillustrations(coverandp.9),KatyFreeman;Ivycoveredwall(p.2),AngelaNewmanonUnsplash;BharatAnandandKlaraJelinkovaatGenAISymposium(p.3),GraceDuVal/Harvard University;PortraitofDustinTingley(p.4),HarvardKennedySchool;KeyFiguresillustration(pp.5–6),RoseWong;OICDslide(p.9), Prof.SheilaHeen(seeConversationalreceptiveness:Improvingengagementwithopposingviews,byYeomans,Minson,Collins,et al.,inOrganizationalBehaviorandHumanDecisionProcesses160(2020)131–148,andDifficultConversations:HowtoDiscussWhat MattersMostbyStone,Patton&Heen,Chapter2(3rded.,2023));GenAISymposium(pp.10–11),GraceDuVal/HarvardUniversity; LXPlaunchphotos(p.14),KevinBelli;ColleagueConversation(p.16),MelissaTarr;ZacWangandhonoreesatHarvardHeroes(p. 18),VeaseyConway/HarvardUniversity. 18
