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Online Course Redesign & Faculty Certification – Update

The summer months of 2018 marked the launch of the Online Course Redesign and Faculty Certification program at SHSU. The focus of the certification is to promote the adoption of high impact practices in online courses. 

Research evidence suggest that “coordinated, systemic professional development at the postsecondary level” is linked to critical academic gains, such as better student outcomes, higher retention, higher graduation rates, and overall greater satisfaction and engagement for both students and faculty (Condon, Iverson, Manduca, Rutz, & Willett, 2016). Thus far, 142 faculty members have successfully achieved the certification.

SHSUOnlineBlackboardFacultyTraining-(140-of-54)Jacob Spradlin, associate director for faculty development and one of the lead presenters, shared: “The feedback we received from participating faculty was tremendously positive, and we are glad to have created a 3-day program that was of value to them.”

Of the instructors who attended the training, 94 percent have volunteered feedback. Here’s a highlight of what they have to say:

  • 100 percent of faculty who completed the post-training survey agreed the certification “helped improve my online course.”
  • 100 percent agreed the “ability to work with instructional designers during the program was valuable.”
  • 100 percent reported they “will take what I gained from this program and use it in my future online courses.”

Among the participants was professor and department chair Dr. Kevin Randall. He concluded, “All faculty, not just those with online courses, should have opportunity to attend a training like this. Jacob and Madelyn did an outstanding job as their passion and teaching skills engaged us.”

Other participants shared:

  • "The session was extremely helpful in every aspect."
  • "I learned more than I anticipated in this course and I am looking forward to implementing new practices into my online courses."
  • "I have learned many new items that I will can't wait to add to my online classes. This knowledge will certainly improve my teaching." 

SHSUOnlineBlackboardFacultyTraining-(132-of-54)At SHSU Online, we know how much effort you put into your courses and classes. We are thankful to have been able to provide such an opportunity this summer. We are now working on Fall and Spring options that will restructure the agenda to coordinate better with faculty teaching schedules.  

Congratulations to the 142 faculty members who successfully achieved the certification in Summer 2018!


References

Condon, W., Iverson, E. R., Manduca, C. A., Rutz, C., & Willett, G. (2016). Faculty development and student learning: Assessing the connections. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.