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Paul Huckett, Michael J. Reese, and Dr. Olysha Magruder

This course is aimed at anyone who is teaching online or will be in the future. Learners will come away with ways to improve their online courses and teaching practices today.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: Welcome & Facilitating Online Learning
Welcome to the course! The first lesson of this module will introduce you to the course, course expectations, and your instructors. We hope you find this course insightful and relevant to your teaching and professional goals. Our first module will acclimate you to the foundational theories and modalities of online teaching, discuss best-practices in assessment of learning outcomes, student motivation, and defining success. You will analyze exemplar case studies and focus on being intentional in the online classroom.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores theories and best-practices of online teaching, providing insights for improving and expanding course offerings
Focuses on improving online courses and enhancing teaching practices, addressing contemporary pedagogical approaches
Taught by instructors with extensive experience in online teaching and learning, providing valuable perspectives
Examines accessibility and inclusivity in online learning environments, fostering equitable access to education
Covers effective use of technology to support student learning and engagement, enhancing the teaching and learning experience
Emphasizes building a strong student community within online courses, fostering a sense of belonging and collaboration

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Reviews summary

Enhancing online teaching practices

According to learners, 'Excellence in Online Teaching' is a largely positive course that provides actionable strategies and a comprehensive foundation for online educators. Many highlight the outstanding module on Accessibility & Inclusivity, praising its depth in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and practical application. The course is noted for its ability to help foster student community building and enhance assessment strategies. While it offers innovative insights into technology use, some learners found certain technology examples to be a bit dated or wished for more hands-on integration. It is generally considered highly beneficial for those newer to online teaching, though experienced instructors may find some foundational elements a refresher. Overall, it helps improve teaching practices today.
Useful for intentional tech use, but some examples may be dated.
"The 'Innovative Uses of Technology' module pushed me to reconsider how I integrate tools beyond just basic functions."
"The technology module felt a bit generic and didn't offer enough hands-on examples for specific, cutting-edge tools."
"Some of the technology examples seemed a little dated. It would be great if they updated this module regularly."
Offers a broad and solid foundation in online teaching.
"It covered everything from foundational theories to practical tech use..."
"I appreciated the comprehensive nature of the course. It covers a wide range of topics essential for online educators."
"Insights on assessment strategies were perfectly aligned with current best practices."
Provides immediately applicable methods for online teaching.
"Implementing Universal Design for Learning is now a core part of my lesson planning."
"The 'Student Community Building' module gave me so many actionable ideas to foster engagement."
"Every module...provided strategies I could immediately apply."
Highlights inclusive design and Universal Design for Learning.
"This course was truly eye-opening, especially the section on accessibility and inclusivity."
"The module on 'Accessibility & Inclusivity' was truly outstanding and deeply relevant."
"It clarified UDL principles and made me much more conscious of designing for all learners."
More beneficial for those newer to online teaching.
"Useful if you're completely new, but not for seasoned professionals looking for cutting-edge approaches."
"For those with experience, it might feel a bit basic in parts, but the UDL module was still very relevant."
"I was hoping for more advanced techniques, but much of this felt like a refresher."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Excellence in Online Teaching with these activities:
Organize course materials
Organize and review course materials to prepare for effective learning.
Show steps
  • Review course syllabus and readings
  • Create a system for organizing notes and assignments
  • Set up a dedicated study space
Explore Moodle tutorials
Familiarize yourself with Moodle's features and functionality to navigate the online course platform effectively.
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  • Watch Moodle video tutorials
  • Complete interactive Moodle exercises
Review HTML
Review the fundamentals of HTML to strengthen your foundation for this course.
Browse courses on HTML
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  • Read through HTML tutorials
  • Set up a development environment
  • Create a simple web page
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Read "Teaching Online: A Practical Guide"
Gain valuable insights and best practices for effective online teaching.
View Teaching Online on Amazon
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  • Read the book
Join an online discussion forum
Engage with peers to share ideas, ask questions, and enhance your understanding of course concepts.
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  • Join an online discussion forum
  • Post thoughtful questions and comments
  • Participate in discussions with peers
Develop a course website
Design and create an aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly website to showcase your online course content.
Browse courses on Web Development
Show steps
  • Plan the website structure
  • Create mockups
  • Develop the website
  • Test and publish the website
Design an online quiz
Create a quiz to assess your understanding of course concepts and practice your skills in designing effective assessments.
Browse courses on Assessment
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  • Test the quiz
  • Identify learning objectives
  • Develop quiz questions
  • Design the quiz interface

Career center

Learners who complete Excellence in Online Teaching will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Online Course Developer
Online Course Developers create and develop online courses and learning materials. This course provides the knowledge and skills needed to design and develop effective online courses.
Online Educator
Online Educators teach and facilitate learning in online environments. This course helps build the skills needed to create and deliver engaging and effective online learning experiences for students.
Education Technology Specialist
Education Technology Specialists provide support and guidance in the use of technology for teaching and learning. This course can help develop the knowledge and skills needed to integrate technology effectively into online learning environments.
Instructional Designer
Instructional Designers create and develop educational materials and programs. This course helps develop the skills needed to identify the appropriate tools and techniques for designing online courses.
Technology Integration Specialist
Technology Integration Specialists provide support and guidance in the use of technology for teaching and learning. This course can help build a foundation in the principles of online learning and the best practices for using technology to support student learning.
Education Consultant
Education Consultants conduct research, evaluate, and implement educational programs and curriculum. By studying the practices of online learning in this course, you can build a foundation in online learning and teaching methods that can be applied to your work as an Education Consultant.
Learning and Development Manager
Learning and Development Managers oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of learning and development programs. This course can help build a foundation in the principles of online learning and the best practices for assessing learning outcomes.
Instructional Coach
Instructional Coaches provide support and guidance to teachers in the use of effective teaching methods and strategies. This course can help build a foundation in the principles of online learning and best practices for assessing learning outcomes, which can be applied to coaching teachers in online environments.
Curriculum Developer
Curriculum Developers create and develop educational materials and programs. This course can help build a foundation in the principles of online learning and the best practices for designing and developing effective learning experiences.
Higher Education Administrator
Higher Education Administrators oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of higher education programs and services. This course may be helpful in developing the knowledge and skills needed to manage and lead online learning initiatives within higher education institutions.
Education Researcher
Education Researchers conduct research on teaching and learning practices and develop new educational theories and approaches. This course may be helpful in developing the knowledge and skills needed to conduct research on online learning and teaching methods.
Program Manager
Program Managers oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs and initiatives. This course may be helpful in developing the knowledge and skills needed to manage online learning programs and initiatives.
Training and Development Manager
Training and Development Managers oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of training and development programs. This course may be helpful in developing the knowledge and skills needed to manage and lead online training and development programs.
Corporate Trainer
Corporate Trainers develop and deliver training programs for employees in corporate organizations. This course may be helpful in developing the knowledge and skills needed to design and deliver effective online training programs.
Adult Education Teacher
Adult Education Teachers teach and facilitate learning for adult learners in a variety of settings. This course may be helpful in developing the knowledge and skills needed to teach and facilitate learning in online environments for adult learners.

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Excellence in Online Teaching.
Explores the challenges that established companies face when they try to innovate. It provides insights into how to avoid the innovator's dilemma and create successful new products and services.
Provides practical advice for new and experienced online educators, discussing topics such as course design, student engagement, and assessment.
Provides a comprehensive overview of best practices for using technology in teaching. It covers topics such as integrating technology into the curriculum, using technology to enhance student learning, and assessing student learning with technology.
Provides insights into the experiences of online learners, discussing topics such as motivation, learning styles, and challenges.
Provides practical advice for students taking online courses, discussing topics such as time management, note-taking, and test-taking.
Provides a comprehensive overview of educational technology. It covers topics such as the history of educational technology, the learning process, and the use of technology in teaching and learning.

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