Online Teaching Endorsement

UM Exploration of Online Teaching is a badge pathway offers compact, manageable and self-selected mini-courses approach to earning online teaching endorsement at UM. At the end of the badge pathway, participants will have completed their online course syllabus, designed and developed a portion of their content, assessment, student communication, and interaction components in their Blackboard sandbox. Support from Academic Outreach instructional designers is available throughout the program.

Badge Pathway Registration

Visit each course series for available courses and links to self-enroll in the courses on Blackboard. We recommend that prospective online instructors enroll in the course series at least one semester before they plan to teach online for the first time. UM WebID is required for self-enrollment.

Newly hired and incoming instructors with asynchronous online teaching experience at another higher education institution could be exempt from up to two course series. Instructors who have taught an online course for three consecutive semesters within the past three years are eligible for exemption. The Online Faculty Prior Experience Questionnaire is included in the registration form.

Online Pedagogy Principles

The Online Pedagogy Principles badge is focused around the principles and standard practices of online teaching and student-centered learning. The series is designed to encourage instructors to promote meaningful interaction and student engagement in a primarily asynchronous online learning environment. Complete ONE required course. See available courses for Online Pedagogy Principles series.

Online Course Compliance

The Online Course Compliance badge is centered around topics and methods required for a compliant online course at UM according to university policies and federal guidelines. Complete all THREE required courses. See available courses for Online Course Compliance series.

Online Course Design

The Online Course Design badge is focused around outlining online course structure and designing course components that align with the learning objectives and support student learning. Complete TWO courses (one required, one self-selected). See available courses for Online Course Design series.

Online Course Technology & Tools

The Online Course Technology & Tools badge is focused around common instructional tools available to University of Mississippi community. Participants will use the tool to create a deliverable. Complete ONE self-selected course. See available courses for Online Course Technology & Tools series.

Online Course Build

The Online Course Development badge, intended to be completed after all other badges, is focused around the how-tos of building an online course and course materials. Participants will create a deliverable from their planning and design. Complete ONE required course. See available courses for Online Course Build series.

Badge Collection and Completion

Badges and an Award of Completion will be issued through Sertifier, an online platform for badge validation and security. Recipients will receive emails from Academic Outreach through Sertifier, confirming each badge earned and a completion of endorsement to teach online after collecting all five badges.

After receiving an email notification, participants can:

• Download the badge as PDF, PNG or JSON,
• Add to their LinkedIn Profile,
• Share on social media, and
• Verify using serial number.

The OTE consists of four modules.

• Online Teaching & Learning
  Focuses on student-centered learning, the theory of online teaching, and standard practices.
• Course Compliance
  Focuses on compliance and UM policies in relation to online education. The module also provides information on available technology at UM.
• Course Design
  Focuses on designing learning activities and assessments that align with the learning objectives.
• Course Development
  Focuses on applying the theory of online teaching and design into practice. Candidates will create course components in their assigned sandbox.

At the end of the OTE, participants will have completed their online course syllabus, designed and developed a portion of their content, assessment, student communication, and interaction components in their Blackboard sandbox. Support from Academic Outreach instructional designers is available throughout the program.

OTE Registration

Registration is open year round.

Newly hired and incoming instructors with asynchronous online teaching experience at another higher education institution could be exempt from up to two modules. Instructors who have taught an online course for three consecutive semesters within the past three years are eligible for exemption. The Online Faculty Prior Experience Questionnaire is included in the registration form.

Successful OTE participants receive an Award of Completion and are endorsed to teach online at the University of Mississippi.  We recommend that prospective online instructors enroll in the modules at least one semester before they plan to teach online for the first time.