Professional development opportunities
The Office of Online Learning, as well as MinnState, have a number of summer professional development opportunities available. Review the short courses, as well as the webinars, for a wealth of options that can be easily registered for through MinnState’s ASA Events website.
Should you find something of interest on the list below (registration fees paid for by the Office of Online Learning), please email onlinelearning@mnstate.edu. If there are other areas or topics that you would like to explore that you do not see listed here, please reach out to onlinelearning@mnstate.edu to find some custom options for you.
WeTeach: August 3 – September 25, 2020; An interactive, collaborative course intended for instructors who teach online or blended courses, develop their own online teaching and design skills, and share online teaching experiences and best practices. This course is for instructors who are new to online teaching. It is also for instructors looking to expand their skills, explore new ways to engage students, and use technology more effectively to save time. Quality Matters standards, technology tools, D2L training, best practices, and research will be woven throughout all modules. Expect to spend up to four to seven additional hours per week reviewing lectures/readings and completing assignments developed to strengthen your online teaching and design skills. Synchronous weekly meetings are Mondays Noon-1 pm OR Thursdays 5:30-6:30 pm.
Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) – A two week, asynchronous online course starting June 1st (as well as other dates) developing your knowledge, skills, and abilities with foundational concepts of Quality Matters.
Creating an Interactive Syllabus: June 10-12 or Sept. 16-18, 2020 (3 days, online, asynchronous, facilitated); The syllabus is one of the most essential elements of any college-level course; however, students often overlook the syllabus and therefore miss out on key information about the expectations of your course. In this workshop, you will explore a variety of tools which can be used to design a syllabus that is better organized, visually more interesting, and engaging for your students. By adding a clear navigation structure, multimedia, and interactivity, you can grab students’ attention, improve their ability to access the information, and clearly convey your key points.
Improving Your Online Course (IYOC) – A two week, asynchronous online course starting July 13th (as well as other dates) working on an online course and applying foundational concepts of Quality Matters.
Increasing Interaction & Engagement: Aug. 3-9 or Nov. 2-8, 2020 (1 week, online, facilitated, asynchronous); Student engagement can be one of the most important indicators for a successful class experience. In this workshop, you will explore theories and practices that foster student engagement in your own courses, including the use of multimedia feedback, discussion techniques, and group involvement. You will learn about the barriers to engagement, and how you can best address these challenges, and develop a plan for your course which will lead to greater student involvement and engagement.
Creating Presence in Your Online Course: Aug. 26-Sept. 9 or Sept. 16-30, 2020 (2 weeks, online, facilitated, asynchronous); Participants in this two-week workshop will learn how to create three types of presence in online courses: instructor, social, and cognitive.
If you would like to receive calendar invites for professional development opportunities from the Office of Online Learning and MinnState, please fill out this form.
Questions for the Office of Online Learning? Email us at onlinelearning@mnstate.edu.