Description:

Harnessing GenAI for Research is an asynchronous training workshop developed by Western University's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies as a companion to the Guidance for the Use of Generative AI in Graduate Studies. This workshop prompts graduate student researchers to take ownership of the five principles of generative AI use outlined in the guidance and translate them into action items for future activities.

After completing this workshop, learners will be able to explain the five ethical principles that guide the use of generative AI in research and creative activities at Western, appraise the value versus risk of generative AI use in all stages of research and creative activities, identify and explain when it is appropriate and when it is inappropriate to use generative-AI in all stages of research and creative activities, and recognize techniques for maintaining agency as a researcher by using generative AI as a tool to augment specific research activities.

Pathway: 

To earn this digital badge, learners must complete the asynchronous training workshop Harnessing GenAI for Research AND complete the Final Quiz with a score of at least 80%.

Time to Complete: Approx. 3 hours

Delivery: Online, asynchronous

Important Note: Please allow up to 6 weeks to receive the badge after completing the final quiz.

Description:

This badge is offered by Western’s Own Your Future program in partnership with the Office of EDI. Graduate students at Western can earn this badge as a stand-alone achievement or build on this learning path by pursuing the Anti-Racism Foundations Certificate.

This badge provides an opportunity for graduate students to develop foundational knowledge and skills that will promote anti-racist allyship and advance the principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization, and Accessibility in the workplace and community. These skills include diversity awareness, respectful communication, and relational leadership.

Pathway: 

To earn this digital badge, students must complete three online asynchronous modules developed by Western’s Office of EDI:

1. Building Inclusivity Through Anti-Racism (45 min)
2. Transforming Power and Privilege (90 min)
3. Bias and Microaggressions (90 min)

For each module, students complete a final quiz in Brightspace to confirm their achievement of the following learning outcomes, and must achieve a score of 80% or greater for each quiz:

• Identify strategies to address implicit bias, prevent microaggressions, and uphold the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Implement strategies to act with integrity and accountability while practicing anti-racist allyship

Finally, to receive the badge, students must provide proof of completion of the three modules by uploading their certificates here.

Time to Complete: Approx. 4 hours

Delivery: Online, asynchronous

Important Note: Please allow up to 6 weeks to receive the badge after uploading your proof of completion of the required modules.

Description:

This digital badge is offered by Western’s Own Your Future program in partnership with the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII). This badge provides recognition of graduate students’ learning and unlearning around topics related to decolonization and Indigenous allyship within the landscape of postsecondary teaching and learning in Canada.

Upon earning this digital badge, learners will be able to:

• identify key principles of learner-centered, inclusive, and engaging resources that meet the needs of Indigenous learners;
• evaluate assessment and feedback strategies for their alignment with meaningful, culturally supportive practices; and
• analyze classroom scenarios to determine which innovative and decolonizing approaches are most appropriate.

Pathway: 

To earn this badge, learners must:

1. Complete the 3 asynchronous modules in Western’s Indigenous Teaching and Learning Series
2. Read the following two resources prepared by the OII: Considerations for Meaningful Collaboration and Working with Indigenous Students
3. Complete a final quiz online here.

Time to Complete: Approx. 3 hours

Delivery: Online, asynchronous

Important Note: Please allow up to 6 weeks to receive the badge after completing the final quiz.

Description:

This digital badge is offered by Western’s Own Your Future program in partnership with the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII). This badge provides recognition of graduate students’ learning and unlearning around topics related to Indigenous history, colonialism, and reconciliation in Canada, as well as approaches to respectful communication and relationship building.

Upon earning this digital badge, learners will be able to:

• distinguish between respectful and harmful approaches to interacting with Indigenous classmates and colleagues;
• describe how power imbalances affect working relationships; and
• identify key strategies for building collaborative partnerships with Indigenous classmates and colleagues.

Pathway: 

To earn this badge, learners must:

1. Complete the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation asynchronous training through OWL Brightspace
2. Complete a final quiz online here.

Time to Complete: Approx. 3 hours

Delivery: Online, asynchronous

Important Note: Please allow up to 6 weeks to receive the badge after completing the final quiz.

Description:

This digital badge was developed in partnership with Western's Centre for Teaching & Learning whose Future Prof Series equips current graduate students with the skills, knowledge and mindsets to pursue academic careers as innovative educators and classroom leaders. The Future Prof series is also part of a larger micro-credential offered by the CTL – the Western Certificate in University Teaching.

The Own Your Future badge for Future Prof Skills offers an introduction to the Future Prof Series, providing official recognition of the completion of any three Future Prof Series workshops. This badge can stand alone or can serve as a milestone towards earning the larger micro-credential offered by the CTL!

Upon completion of this digital badge, learners will be able to describe and expand on key issues or approaches to the scholarship of teaching and learning, while making connections to their teaching experience and future pedagogical and career goals.

Pathway: 

To earn this digital badge, learners must complete any three workshops from the Centre for Teaching & Learning's Future Prof Series, which includes embedded knowledge checks and/or reflections.

Time to Complete: Approx. 4.5 - 6 hours

Delivery: Online and/or in-person, synchronous

Important Note: You are welcome to complete the Future Prof workshops at any time, however, the badge will be issued only three times per year (end of January, May, and September). This means that if you complete the requirements in February, you will receive your badge in May, and so on.

Description:

Grant writing is a crucial component of academic careers, as well as some non-academic careers. The transferable skills developed through grant writing are valuable in multiple professional contexts and include persuasive writing, budget planning, and effectively communicating complex information in brief and accessible language.

There are two pathways available to earn this digital badge.

Pathway 1:

This digital badge can be earned through participation in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities Grant Writing Program which is offered annually in June. Students who choose this pathway will submit a draft grant proposal at the end of the program, and will receive feedback directly from the Faculty of Arts & Humanities (office of the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies). 

Those earning this badge via Pathway 1 will receive the badge upon review of their draft grant proposal, typically in September following the June program offering.

Time to Complete: Approx. 10 hours

Delivery: In person, synchronous

Pathway 2: 

Currently in development

Delivery: Online, asynchronous

Description:

This digital badge was developed in partnership with the Western Research initiative, Research Engagement Collaborative Alliance with Partners (RECAP). 

RECAP offers a series of asynchronous eLearning modules for researchers (including graduate students and faculty) to enhance their ability to effectively undertake collaborative research opportunities while implementing co-creation design principles with diverse partners from various sectors.

Pathway:

To earn this digital badge, learners must complete RECAP Modules 1-3. 

Following completion of the modules, learners must complete a final quiz (accessed here) with a score of at least 80%. 

Time to Complete: Approx. 3 hours

Delivery: Online, asynchronous

Important Note: Please allow up to 6 weeks to receive the badge once you have completed the final quiz.

Description:

This digital badge was developed in partnership with Western's Office of Academic Quality and Enhancement in recognition of work undertaken by graduate students to understand how postsecondary programs are developed, operated and reviewed through the lens of institutional quality assurance and postsecondary program evaluation. Students who complete the requirements for this digital badge gain insight into the broader landscape of quality-assured education in Ontario and beyond, while connecting curriculum development to the outcomes that matter to students, disciplines, workplaces and society. Participating students also reflect on how the knowledge and skills related to quality assurance and program evaluation are transferable to a variety of career paths within and beyond academia.

There are two pathways available to earn this digital badge.

Pathway 1:

To earn this badge, students can attend the synchronous Own Your Future workshop, Introduction to Post-secondary Quality Assurance, offered annually in the Fall term.

Following the workshop, students must complete a final quiz with a score of 80% or greater.

Time to Complete: Approx. 3 hours

Delivery: In person, synchronous

Important Note: Please allow up to 6 weeks to receive the badge after completing the final quiz.

Pathway 2: 

Currently in development