Online learning (OL) courses help faculty improve skills for online teaching and service. The courses are open to all current Penn State faculty, staff, and graduate students and are offered in a self-directed or instructor-led format. Self-directed courses can be completed at your own pace. Instructor-led courses are facilitated by Penn State faculty and simulate the online student experience.
Courses begin on the first Monday of the designated month. If that date falls on a national or university holiday, participants will be notified of the start date.
Course registration closes two weeks before the start date for instructor-led courses. All course work should be completed within the designated course timeline.
OL 1200: Student Support and Advocacy in Online Learning
OL 1200 consists of two major components: This course was designed to help faculty and staff determine the most appropriate and efficient ways to help students who may be experiencing different forms of stress. Please…
OL 3000: Supporting Accommodations for for Online Learners
OL 3000 consists of six scenarios that guide you through processes that support accessibility to online learning.
OL 3800: Excellence in Academic Advising
OL 3800 provides you with a solid foundation for best practices in academic advising. Access to the advising toolkit is a valuable resource that can be used now and in the future.
OL 3875 Excellence in Academic Advising: Career Advising
OL 3875 provides participants with best practices when students ask for advice on career topics, and it shows them how to use valid and reliable career resources. Recognizing the hand-off points from academic advising to career services is essential and best practices are included.
OL 2000: Essentials of Online Teaching
OL 2000 provides you with a solid foundation to practice effective online teaching. Activities focus on discussion management, assessment techniques, developing learning activities, reflective practice, and planning for future development and community-building.
OL 2200: Assessment of Online Learners
OL 2200 focuses on such topics as principles of effective practice for assessing student learning, varying assessment strategies, developing rubrics, using student evaluation data, and issues concerning cheating and plagiarism.
OL 3400: Online Course Design
OL 3400 is designed to assist participants in the authoring, design, and development of an online course. This course will cover a wide variety of content that will assist you in the successful authoring of an online course.
OL 3200: Serving the Military and Veteran Student
This course leads you through several scenarios in order to acculturate you to the conditions of the military student. It includes such issues as the structure of the military, language, what to expect from students in the military, and the support available at Penn State.