This workshop I attended, Designing and Delivering Successful Online Instructor Training, could potentially be controversial. The idea that instructors would be required to gain certification to teach online is not likely going to be widely welcomed. Still, the idea appeals to me. And I might go as far as to predict that online instructors will grow accustomed to more attention than their F2F colleagues, and they will actually welcome it. Or it could all blow up with strong emotional, moral and ethical objections that will ultimately preserve the status quo. Not that there is anything wrong with status quo. I simply enjoy tinkering in the hopes of making improvements.
With this rough context in place, let me tell you a bit about the Online Teacher Certification program at Central New Mexico Community College.
In order to teach online, adjunct faculty must enroll and complete a 12 week online certification course. The course is taught by faculty and when finished, faculty are guaranteed a section. The guarantee acts as the incentive to complete the course.
During the course of the 12 weeks, students learn about best practices, theory, research, the learning management system and what it's like to be an online learner. Faculty must complete assignments, contribute to discussion boards, participate in peer reviews, and perhaps most importantly, work on the framework for their own online course. It's intensive.
This certification course grew from the faculty at CNM in an effort to improve and ensure future online courses at CNM will continue to deliver quality education. More information at the link above.
In the end, it wouldn't be too terribly difficult to expand my current Designing Online Instruction course to include more about teaching online and course development. And then make that available to anyone interested, especially new online instructors.
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