Welcome to the TLT Online Teaching Essentials series! Equip yourself with the foundational skills and knowledge you need to begin creating inclusive, engaging, learner-centered online courses. This series is designed to provide you with a set of on-demand, bite-sized learning modules that you can move through at your own pace, and in any order, while working toward a meaningful credential that you can share with your colleagues and peers.

The entire program is free and open to all Rutgers faculty, staff, and students. You can self-enroll, learn, and complete the series according to your schedule and needs. Earning a badge is optional; the resources in each course are here for you to explore and refer to at any time, right when you need them.

Click the links below to join any of the courses below and begin your learning journey!

What You'll Learn

Earn the Online Teaching Fundamentals badge by successfully completing one course in each of the following competencies:

Instructional Technology for Student Engagement

Course: Introduction to Canvas Basics 

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In this course, participants will learn the foundational skills needed to effectively utilize Canvas for online teaching. Topics covered include navigating Canvas, creating course content, managing assignments, and using Gradebook and Speedgrader, and managing course settings, rosters, and groups.

 

Inclusive Teaching in Online Environments

Course: Creating Accessible Course Content 

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This course focuses on strategies for creating accessible course content to ensure an inclusive online learning environment. Participants will learn about best practices for designing content that is usable by all students, including those with disabilities. The course covers techniques for creating accessible documents, videos, and images, as well as how to use the Ally accessibility checker to evaluate your course accessibility and set goals for improvement.

 

Designing & Delivering Learner-Centered Online Courses

Course: Course Design Foundations

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In this course, participants will explore the principles of learner-centered design for online courses. The course will delve into the unique needs of online learners and key principles of online learning, including the concept of Backward Design and strategies for managing cognitive load. Participants will also learn how to align course content with meaningful learning objectives and develop a course map to guide design and instruction.

 

Course Structure

All courses in the series are offered through Canvas in an asynchronous and self-paced format.  This structure allows you to engage with the course material at times that are most convenient for you, enabling a flexible and personalized learning experience.

Each course includes:

  • Readings and videos
  • Practice activities
  • Short assignment submissions

If you choose to pursue the badge, individualized feedback on assignment submissions will be provided by TLT’s instructional design experts and will include detailed guidance to enhance your teaching practice.

 

Enrollment and Completion

Enrollment is open to all Rutgers faculty, staff, and students interested in enhancing their online teaching skills. Participants can self-enroll by clicking the “Enroll” button for each course. There are no prerequisites for enrollment, making this series accessible to educators at all levels of experience.

A digital badge will be issued via Accredible after you successfully complete each of the three core courses. Digital badges can be shared with your personal and professional networks via LinkedIn or other social media.

Please contact oid@docs.rutgers.edu with any questions about the Canvas courses in the Online Teaching Essentials series. For questions related to digital badges, please contact badging@docs.rutgers.edu