Excellence in Online Teaching

Welcome to our Excellence in Online Teaching Certification Course !

This program has been developed to assist instructors in designing engaging and successful online courses. It will help faculty prepare for the UGC application process and completing the Supplemental Application required to describe your course design. It is also for faculty who have received course approval and would like assistance in course design, and/ or a cohort of colleagues to discuss development of engaging course content.

Offered by Instructional Designers in the Teaching Commons, the course will be presented 2-3 times per year and each cohort will run for 6 weeks. Each week, participants will embark on a journey of course design topics through both asynchronous and synchronous online interactions. The cornerstone of this journey is the implementation of evidence-based practices for online learning with an emphasis on robust student engagement. By the conclusion of the certification, participants will have skillfully crafted the fundamental structure of an online course within the CatCourses framework.

To ensure a personalized and tailored approach, participants will have the invaluable opportunity to engage in individual consultations. These consultations will guide them in the selection and seamless integration of online tools that align perfectly with their course design goals. Here's an overview of the online consultation format:

• Synchronous online sessions each week led by our senior instructional designers, providing expert guidance.
• Participants will also be able to attend open virtual office hours to discuss their course.
• Weekly assignments, reflection activities, and vibrant discussions will encourage continuous engagement and growth.
• Each participant will have the opportunity to schedule 2 individual meetings to discuss your specific course content, ideas and design challenges.
• All course content will be conveniently accessible via CatCourses.

We're thrilled to embark on this educational journey with you, and we're committed to supporting your pursuit of excellence in online course design.

What

• Cohort-based, 6-week online course
• Open to all Instructors interested in developing an online course or preparing to submit a course proposal for an online course
• Developed by experts in the Teaching Commons
• Delivered online with weekly synchronous cohort meetings.

When

• The next course will run in early Spring 2025, from January 13 to February 24, 2025.
• Required synchronous sessions for discussion and active learning / implementing ideas will be held on Wednesdays, from 4:00 - 5:00PM.

Sign Up

Use this link to sign up for the Spring 2025 Cohort. Don't delay! this cohort will be limited to 20 participants.

If you are interested in receiving notification for future course offerings, please complete this short form: Excellence in Online Teaching Interest Form

Need more information or have questions? Email Joan Holmquist (jholmquist@ucmerced.edu).