The Learning Ventures instructional design team has launched a free online teaching certificate course for UT faculty and teaching assistants.
The four-week online course prepares learners to effectively facilitate teaching and learning in an online environment.
Dr. Mingli Xiao, instructional designer and course instructor, served as one of the class developers.
“In this course, participants will gain insights about online teaching and learning through discussion, sharing, peer mentoring, collaboration and self-reflection,” she said. “This course is also unique in that it enables participants to practice using various online communication and assessment tools as they complete learning activities from the student perspective.”
The class is organized into topical modules that explore the online learning environment, course preparation and facilitation, assessment strategies, best practices, and workload management.
The course is offered entirely online in Blackboard, the University’s course management system.
Phoebe Ballard, senior instructional designer and course instructor, hopes that the course will enhance faculty support in online learning.
“We are always seeking new and engaging ways to support UT faculty and teaching assistants in their exemplary efforts,” she said. “Faculty are busy and have support and training needs that extend beyond place and the traditional 9-to-5 work week. Developing an online course about online teaching seemed like a logical and efficient vehicle for enhancing the quality of online education and the services we provide daily. What better way to learn about the unique needs of an online student than to be one?”
Dr. Thomas McLoughlin, associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology, participated in the course pilot during fall semester.
“As a newcomer to online instruction, the online teaching certificate course was an excellent introduction into the world of distance learning,” he said. “The course content provided insightful information for the facilitation of an effective online course. Also, taking the course from the viewpoint of a student really allowed me to experience firsthand how a well-designed, organized online course is delivered.”
The certificate course will begin Monday, Jan. 20, and end Friday, Feb. 14, with additional sessions offered throughout the year.
To register, click here.
For more information, contact Dr. Peter You, director of faculty support and special projects, at peter.you@utoledo.edu or 419.530.4016.
