Introduction

The first time you teach in a classroom, you’re in a familiar environment. You’ve already spent years as a student observing other teachers. But the online environment can be new territory. Most of us haven’t been online students, and have very little idea how it feels to be disconnected in time and space from others in the class.

Often those about to teach online ask, will I get to know my students, and will I know when they encounter that “AHA” moment? The answers to both of these questions can be yes. Listen to our faculty talk about their experiences teaching online: Faculty Voices

Achieving these outcomes is not a given, however. It will depend on the instructor and the design of the course, the level of teaching “presence,” the instructor’s engagement and his or her ability to facilitate an online learning community. As in the traditional classroom, students need to engage with the instructor, with each other and with the course content.

The Course

Through this course learners will be introduced to the research foundation in this growing field, on which WSU Online best practices are built. It consists of stand-alone, self-paced modules that can be completed in any order. Each module contains an introduction, assigned readings and media presentations, and recommended activities. Instructors new to online teaching will gain the most by working through the modules sequentially.

The emphasis of the course is online teaching, but best practices for online design are covered as well, for those working without the support of an instructional designer

To receive the certification associated with this site you will need to complete the assessments for each module. See below for more information.

Learning Community

Throughout this course you will be reading about the importance of building community in online courses. This particular series of modules, however, are structured to allow for independent, self-paced learning. This will provide you an opportunity to compare and contrast what you are reading with your current experience. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this certification course, what elements might limit, or promote learner success?

We are, however, hoping that an outcome of this course would be the development of a learning community that supports others as they work through the course and provides a supportive environment as you are teaching online. We hope you'll share strategies that work as well as those that fall flat, your fears and excitement, your successes and frustrations, and how to tell when you encounter that “aha” moment.

To participate in this community you will need to register for the course (free and no email solicitations will come your way) and access the discussion board in the Learning Management System where the assessments are also housed.

We encourage you to take your time, have fun and learn lots!

Becoming Certificated:

To receive the Teaching Online Certification associated with this course you’ll need to complete an assessment for each module. In order to access the assessments please register online for the course. Once you have registered for the course you’ll receive an email providing the instructions for accessing and completing the assessments.

Course Evaluation:

Whether or not you choose to become certified and whether or not you finish this course we’d like to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete the evaluation when you completed your use of this site. If you register and take the assessments, there is a link to the evaluation in the assessment space as well.