Minneapolis Public Schools

For those new to teaching online, or those already teaching online. Get the best instruction from the foremost authorities in online learning. From building to improving an online course, from fostering online discussion to encouraging student interaction, from traditional assessment to online tests, the program will give you both the fundamentals of teaching online, as well as the most advanced tips and techniques in the business. Your instructors are authors, speakers and consultants in online learning and teaching. NEW! Become a Certified Online Instructor!! The COI designation was created for faculty in higher education, but other teachers are eligible for the program as well. You can demonstrate to others in your institution that your knowledge about online teaching is benchmarked with a standard of achievement developed by the leading thinkers and practitioners in the field. Perhaps the biggest reward is the satisfaction of having achieved this level of knowledge skills. To complete the LERN COI program, the final step is a 40 question multiple choice exam with one essay question. Participants average six months to complete the COI but it can be finished in as few as three months. You have up to two years to complete the program. Courses (click link for course details): Advanced Online Teaching Designing Online Instruction Fostering Online Discussion Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ Class Details: Advanced Online Teaching Unit 1: How the internet is changing how we learn To 10 reasons cognitive information is delivered better online Learning online What you cannot do online How young people learn online The brain and learning online Unit 2: Building your online course The 10 step model How knowledge is organized online Building online content Creating audio and video presentations Development time and cost Unit 3: Teaching your online course Facilitating online discussions Creating a safe online learning environment Responding to student questions and needs How much time you should spend online Evaluating your online course Unit 4: Creating assessment and measuring online learning Designing online assessment Multiple assessments Assessment as a learning tool Grading in the 21st century Best practices in online teaching Designing Online Instruction Unit 1: Overview of the online instructional environment Internet basics Principles behind the adoption of technology innovation The nature of the online learning environment Unit 2: Envisioning your online course Types of web courses Preparing for the move to the web Analyzing your current course Planning your web course Identifying resources Design guides Unit 3: Developing a web course Team vs individual approach to development Phases of design and development Models of web courses Unit 4: Online Interaction Online collaboration Creating an interactive environment Motivating student-student interaction Managing interaction Unit 5: Issues in the web environment Managing email Facilitating discussion Class size Copyright Fostering Online Discussion Unit 1: How continual engagement helps you foster effective online discussions What is continual engagement? Why is continual engagement important? Breaking down the barriers to effective continual engagement in your discussion interaction Unit 2: Building your students' success through your interaction Why continual engagement in online discussion is important to your students' success Choosing your words carefully in discussion interaction Strategies to use at the beginning of your term Strategies to use as the term gets underway Strategies to use when things get hectic Unit 3: Assessing your students' performance Giving effective feedback Communicating with students about grades Some special challenges of group work and how to overcome them Unit 4: Keeping your communication skills sharp How networking with your peers can build your skills Using break times effectively Working with an assistant How online interaction enhances your face-to-face instruction

This is your invitation to teach others in-person and join in one of the more important functions in life - passing on knowledge and skills. It is both an opportunity and a responsibility. Whether you want to teach others or currently teach others, in any setting, either formally or informally, this course is for you. We will give you both the fundamental and advanced information to improve your teaching. Your lead instructor is author of How to Teach Adults, the best-selling book on the subject. The ebook version is included in the course. Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ Class details: Unit 1: How adults learn Emotional characteristics, self-image as key Physical characteristics and your physical surroundings Mental characteristics, adults display a readiness to learn Social characteristics, learners’ experiences, schooling, and prior experience Keys to helping adults learn Unit 2: Tackling learning styles Sensory learning styles Gender learning styles Neurological learning styles Unit 3: Generational learning styles The cohort experience Understanding generational differences How Baby Boomers learn How Gen X and Gen Y learn Unit 4: How to prepare for your course Preparing the Course Goals, objectives, and end results Amount of material to cover Slant or approach, a range of ways to approach your subject Materials preparation Unit 5: Discovering and involving your participants Finding out more about your participants The First Class, why this meeting is critical, ice breakers How to involve your participants The Teachable Moment, a special time when you let go for awhile Unit 6: Ways to vary your teaching techniques Modes of teaching, different formats for various situations Tips on how to lead a good discussion How to ask a good question - one of the most overlooked skills Making small group activities successful Energizing your physical learning environment Unit 7: Great presentation techniques Surprising do’s and don’ts of presenting Advanced presentation techniques Teaching tools, including audio-visuals Handouts that really zing Learning mediums, extra special touches to enhance learning Unit 8: Improving your teaching Measuring results and learning Using the web in face-to-face courses Improving your course, every time Learning and teaching in the 21st century