Online Teaching Certificates
These online teaching certificates were developed through research in teacher training and professional competency development and are open to all Penn State instructors, graduate students, and staff.
There is a core set of courses that, when combined, leads to the Foundations for Online Teaching Certificate. We recommend that you begin with this certificate program, but it is not mandatory.
Foundations for Online Teaching Certificate
This is a four-course online certificate that helps you develop essential competence in online teaching. As you gain experience, a variety of courses, credentials, and opportunities become available to support your professional development. Earning this certificate will also earn you recognition through the Provost Endorsement Program.
Certificate courses:
- OL 1200: Student Support and Advocacy in Online Learning — Open Enrollment
- OL 2000: Essentials of Online Teaching — March, April, June, July, October
- OL 2050: Essentials of Online Teaching for Graduate Students — May, September
- OL 2150: Canvas Hands On — March, June, July
- OL 3000: Supporting Accommodations for Online Learners — Open Enrollment
Three additional certificates are also available. You can take courses within the certificates individually or you can complete the series to fulfill certificate requirements.
The Learner and Learning Certificate
Teaching begins with the learner. To ensure that each student learns new knowledge and skills, teachers must understand that learning and developmental patterns vary among individuals, that learners bring unique individual differences to the learning process, and that learners need supportive and safe learning environments to thrive.
Certificate courses:
- OL 3000: Supporting Accommodations for Online Learners — Open Enrollment
- OL 3100: Teaching the Adult Learner — Open Enrollment
- OL 3200: Serving Military-Connected Students — Open Enrollment
- OL 3300: Teaching the International Student — Under Revision
- OL 3500: Gamification in Online Teaching and Learning — April
If you have already completed the Foundations for Online Teaching Certificate, you will have already completed one of the courses required for the Learner and Learning Certificate.
Instructional Practice Certificate
Effective instructional practice requires teachers to understand and integrate assessment, planning, and instructional strategies in coordinated and engaging ways. Beginning with their end or goal, teachers first identify student learning objectives and content standards and align assessments to those objectives.
Certificate courses:
- OL 2000: Essentials of Online Teaching — February, April, June, July, October
- OL 2150: Canvas Hands On — March, June, July
- OL 2200: Assessment of Online Learners — June, October
- OL 2300: Teamwork in Online Teaching and Learning — Under Revision
- OL 2800: Inclusive Online Pedagogy — (Coming Soon)
If you have already completed the Foundations for Online Teaching Certificate, you will have already completed one of the courses required for the Instructional Practice Certificate.
Online Course Authoring Certificate
Authoring an online course requires a set of skills in course design and management as well as technical competencies that are beyond what is essential for effective teaching. This certificate includes four courses that introduce faculty authors to principles and processes for effective online course design, concepts for creating accessible content for all students, integration of information literacy and library components into course content development, and a broader and deeper understanding of the Canvas learning management system. Though not included in this certificate, it is highly recommended that course authors complete OL 2000: Essentials of Online Teaching in order to get a richer understanding of how effective online teaching practice and online course design are related.
Certificate courses:
- OL 2150: Canvas Hands On — March, June, July
- OL 2450: Integrating Open Educational Resources into your Course — February, June
- OL 2600: Accessible Online Course Authoring — Open Enrollment
- OL 3400: Online Course Design — March, September
- OL 3600: Universal Design for Learning — Open Enrollment
Foundations of Academic Advising Certificate
This is a four-course online certificate that helps you develop foundational competency when providing academic advising for Penn State students. Understanding individual needs while building positive relationships provides support for a diverse student population. Navigating and using Penn State technological tools to use pro-active advising concepts is one of the main objectives when building an understanding of academic advising. Participants in these courses will develop skills to support student persistence, retention, and graduation from the time of matriculation to graduation.
Certificate courses:
- OL 3800: Excellence in Academic Advising: Building a Foundation — Open Enrollment
- OL 3825: Excellence in Academic Advising: Under-Resourced Students, Part I — Open Enrollment
- OL 3850: Excellence in Academic Advising: Under-Resources Students, Part II — Open Enrollment
- OL 3875: Excellence in Academic Advising: Career Advising — Open Enrollment