The Online Teaching Institute (OTI)
The Online Teaching Institute (OTI) is designed to immerse new and moderately-experienced online instructors in evidence-based practices that promote student learning, including integrated course design and structure, effective teaching methods, and a supportive learning environment. Instructors will explore accessible learning principles that foster welcoming, engaging and effectual learning environments online.
The OTI is a three-week course led by CAT instructors where you will have the opportunity to discuss and learn from other faculty members. It has an expected time commitment of about five hours per week. Knowing that faculty have differing availability and needs, we offer the OTI four times a year, typically in August, October, January and April.
Additionally, a summer intensive is offered in May that takes place over two weeks, rather than the usual three. This session strongly features collaborative activities, with the expectation of more frequent engagement over a shorter time span equaling about eight hours of time commitment per week.
After completing either the typical course or the summer intensive session, participants will receive a Letter of Completion and a Credly badge attesting to their commitment to the fundamentals of online teaching.
Upon successful completion of the OTI, participants will be able to:
- Identify strategies to establish presence and build community online.
- Consider key elements of online course design.
- Design online assessments that improve student learning.
- Create effective and engaging discussions for students.
- Identify how to structure an online course to motivate learners and support their success.
- Explore accessible learning principles and the resources for implementing them.
- Apply evidence-based practices for effective teaching and learning in an online learning environment.