To meet the evolving needs of modern education, SHSU Online is advancing its commitment to faculty development with the updated Digital Educator Certificate. Launching in Spring 2025, this comprehensive training program is designed to support instructors teaching across various online modalities. By focusing on best practices for fully online, hybrid/blended, and online-live courses, the certificate equips educators with the skills to create engaging, effective, and accessible digital learning environments.
The Digital Educator Certificate prepares instructors to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities presented by three key online course modalities:
- Fully Online Courses: Designed for 100% asynchronous instruction, fully online courses allow students to access materials, complete activities, and engage in learning on their own schedule. All course content and resources are hosted in the learning management system (LMS), providing a flexible yet structured learning experience.
- Hybrid/Blended Courses: These courses balance in-person and online instruction, with 50–67% delivered asynchronously. Hybrid/blended formats often feature dynamic, on-demand content while minimizing the need for synchronous sessions, making them a versatile option for diverse learner needs.
- Online-Live Courses: Fully synchronous and replicating the immediacy of in-person classes, online-live courses require students to participate in real-time lectures and activities during scheduled class times. All instructional assets are stored in the LMS for easy access.
Each modality comes with distinct expectations for course content and instructional design, and the certificate program equips faculty with strategies tailored to each format.
Through the Digital Educator Certificate, SHSU Online not only supports educators in their current roles but also prepares them for the future of digital education. The program prioritizes accessibility, robust course design, and meaningful student engagement, ensuring that instructors are well-equipped to meet the challenges of today’s digital classrooms. By fostering a culture of excellence in online course design and delivery, SHSU Online continues to lead the way in empowering educators to create impactful learning experiences across any format.