New Online Instructor Orientation
Audience: Waterloo instructors who are teaching online for the first time and did not author the course they are teaching.
This online orientation is designed to guide you through your course and will cover the following:
- The CEL team that is here to support you
- The structure, design, and Learning Management system (LEARN) tools used in your course
- How to navigate your course
- How to identify your specific tasks and responsibilities as the online facilitator
- The critical role that online facilitators play in student outcomes and success
- Specific strategies that you can use to engage with, support, and connect with your students
The workshop materials are available online in LEARN and will be available until the end of term. There is no requirement for participation although there will be 1 or 2 optional live virtual sessions. The dates below are the windows of time during which the orientation facilitators from CEL will be monitoring the course, answering questions, and available to support you.
Upcoming Dates: Fall 2023 TBD
Getting Ready to Facilitate Online Courses: TA Training
Audience: Waterloo Teaching Assistants
This 4-week, online certificate course is suitable for any current or future teaching assistant (TA) who wishes to build skills and knowledge of best practices in facilitating fully online courses.
While this course has been specifically designed for a TA or preceptor, the insight into online course facilitation and skills developed will build proficiency for anyone. You will discover how to successfully contribute to the facilitation of an online course, foster student engagement, support student outcomes, and build a sense of community using various forms of interaction. Participants will also learn how to use LEARN learning management system tools to create presence and connection, assess student learning and work effectively in their TA/Preceptor role.
Format and Expectations
You should expect to spend about 4 hours each week engaging with the course materials, activities, and assessments. This hands-on course is facilitated by two experts in online learning from CEL who will be there to track your progress and support your learning through the course.
The format is asynchronous with no live sessions, so you can work through the weekly content and activities at your own pace. Participants are expected to complete the practice activities by the set weekly deadlines, as many of the activities are scaffolded and depend upon timely peer-to-peer interaction.
You will receive a certificate in online course facilitation upon completion of the course deliverables, and it can be applied as an elective towards the Centre for Teaching Excellence's Fundamentals of University Teaching Program.
Next Offer: Monday, September 18th - Friday, October 20th 2023
There will no activities or assignments due during Reading Week
Online Instructor Community of Practice
Audience: course authors and instructors
CEL hosts an Online Instructor Community of Practice (CoP) session once a term for course authors and instructors. This is an informal opportunity to meet with other online instructors at Waterloo to discuss both the challenges and successes of online teaching. A theme or topic of discussion is selected for each session based on the interests expressed by the group and/or generated through the Online Instructor CoP listserv.
Upcoming Dates: TBD