Faculty Online Readiness Program

Training Course 1: Introduction to Online Teaching and Learning
This training course will cover the fundamentals of teaching and learning online, provide an overview of various online modalities, and offer strategies for engaging students. The course learning objectives include:

1. Apply key structural elements and best practices for online teaching and learning
2. Distinguish between modalities of online learning
3. Inspect nuances of online teaching

Estimated Hours to Complete: 3-5 hours

Training Course 2: Online Course Design Best Practices
In this training course, faculty will be introduced to designing effective learning objectives for online courses, integrating technology tools, and applying best practices to create accessible course content for online delivery. The course learning objectives include:

1. Define the course modality migration process.
2. Examine designing effective online learning objectives.
3. Identify appropriate technology tools for teaching and learning.
4. Recognize different components of accessibility.

Estimated Hours to Complete: 6-8 hours

Training Course 3: Online Instructional Techniques
In this training course, faculty will explore assessment design strategies and methods for providing constructive feedback to students. Topics will also include diversity, equity, and inclusion and approaches to creating community among students in an online environment. The course learning objectives include:

1. Recognize effective online course assessment design.
2. Identify the benefits of administering constructive feedback.
3. Review opportunities to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.
4. Apply workload streamlining strategies.

Estimated Hours to Complete: 6-8 hours
 

A badge will be awarded to participants who complete the following requirements for each training course:

1. Complete the training course.
   Complete the course content and actively participate in the online discussion boards.
2. Attend the dedicated workshops offered during the duration of the training course.
   In collaboration with distinguished CSULB faculty, ATS will present workshops on specific topics aligned with each training course. Participants are asked to attend the dedicated synchronous live workshops offered during the training course or request access to our on-demand video library. See the Workshop Dates below.
3. Work with an assigned ATS Instructional Designer.
   Faculty participants will work closely with an Instructional Designer for the duration of the program. The Instructional Designer will support faculty in the application of concepts discussed in each training course. 
4. Apply the quality course design and delivery checklist.
   Each training course will include a checklist with elements of online course design and delivery. The checklist was developed by our instructional design team and our faculty quality assurance community of practice. The checklist is meant to guide faculty through the design, development, and delivery of their online course and confirms that quality assurance exists within the course. Requirements to successfully complete each training course will consist of implementing each checklist item to any chosen course and having the course reviewed by a peer review faculty member and instructional designer.  

Pariticpants will receive a culminating badge for FORP after successfully obtaining a badge for completing each of the 3 Training Courses

1. Training Course 1: Introduction to Online Teaching and Learning
2. Training Course 2: Online Course Design Best Practices.
3. Training Course 3: Online Instructional Techniques.

Orientation Dates

Cohort 1

• Training Course 1:  Monday, February 6  |  10-11am
• Training Course 2:  Monday, February 27  |  2-3pm
• Training Course 3:  Monday, March 27  |  10-11am

Cohort 2: 

• Training Course 1: Monday, March 13  |  10-11am
• Training Course 2: Monday, April 3  |  10-11am
• Training Course 3: Monday, May 1  |  10-11am

Workshop Dates

Intro to Online Teaching and Learning
Wednesday, February 15  |  2-3pm  |  REGISTER 
Thursday, March 16  |  2-3pm  |  REGISTER

This workshop will provide a high-level overview of online teaching and learning. Best practices in designing, delivering, engaging, and communicating in an online course will be presented. CSULB faculty partners, Dianna McCluskey (Criminology), will co-facilitate (Feb. 15), and Michelle Zakson (Family & Consumer Sciences; Health Science) will attend as a guest speaker sharing their experiences in online teaching and learning.

Accessibility and UDL 
Friday, March 3  |  10-11am  |  REGISTER
Thursday, April 6  |  2-3pm  |  REGISTER

Online Course Design Best Practices
Thursday, March 9  |  2-3pm  |  REGISTER
Tuesday, April 18  |  10-11am  |  REGISTER

Online Instructional Techniques
Friday, April 7  |  2-3pm  |  REGISTER
Thursday, May 4  |  2-3pm  |  REGISTER

This workshop will introduce online teaching strategies for synchronous and asynchronous modalities that promote instructor presence, facilitate collaborative group work, and provide effective feedback in a timely manner. CSULB faculty partners Dr. Joshua Cotter, Kinesiology (April 7), and Dr. Nora Griffin, Sociology (May 4) will share their expertise in facilitating successful online activities.

Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI
Wednesday, April 12  |  10-11am  |  REGISTER
Wednesday, May 18  |  10-11am  |  REGISTER

This workshop will look at Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) issues within an online learning environment. We will share benefits, inclusive practices, and implementation examples at the classroom level and institutional level. Together, we will review DEI standing principles, and discuss their roles in reducing barriers to learning. CSULB faculty partners will share their expertise in building successful online learning communities. 

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Click on the image above to open the accessible PDF version. 

Faculty who have completed the ATS Instructional Technology Foundations (ITF) programs may be familiar with some of the information in the Faculty Online Readiness Program (FORP). Feel free to review these topics if desired. 

Training Course 1: Introduction to Online Teaching and Learning

• Module 2: Implications of using an asynchronous or synchronous format
• Module 3: Organizing and structuring your content, assessments, and communication

Training Course 2: Online Course Design Best Practices

• Module 2: Designing effective online learning objectives
• Module 3: Basic skills and tools for using an LMS
• Module 4: Learning materials vs. Learning activities
• Module 7: Accessibility

How is the FORP Course training different than the other professional development courses such as the Instructional Technology Foundations (ITF) and Online Learning Studio (OLS) programs?

The majority of FORP content is brand new; topics such as Diversity Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have been included. This program considers more nuanced issues of teaching online and presents tips and best practices that can be implemented in the classroom.  ITF and OLS only briefly covered the basics of these topics. 

Does this program only focus on course design?

In each FORP training course, participants will have the opportunity to learn about course delivery and course design. 

Am I required to complete this program in order to teach online courses at the University?

No. Participation in or completion of this program is not required to teach online. However, the training may be used as careful consideration for faculty appointments.

Documented training and preparation to teach online may be considered as one aspect of a faculty member's qualifications for teaching in hybrid, hyflex, or synchronous and asynchronous online modalities. Completing appropriate modules will be a benefit for anyone who intends to teach online in future semesters.