Texas State University

Faculty Development Requirements for Online Teaching

The Distance and Extended Learning Steering Committee has approved the following options for faculty development for online teaching. These options are designed to meet SACS and THECB requirements that faculty who teach distance education courses have appropriate training, as described inPPS 4.05: Maintenance and Improvement of Quality in Teaching.

Any faculty member who wishes to teach an online or hybrid course through the Office of Distance and Extended Learning is required to complete the following within six months of the course opening:

Title / Who / Duration / Cost
TRACS Basic / ITS / 2-hours face-to-face or self-paced online / None

In addition, faculty members are required to complete at least one course from the options listed below

Option 1

Options for faculty members with little to no online teaching experience:

Course / Prerequisite / Duration / Cost
ITS Foundations of Online Course Design and Development / TRACS Basic / 5 weeks during Spring or Fall; 2 weeks during Summer / None
Quality Matters (QM): Designing Your Online Course * / None / 2 weeks / $150
QM: Designing Your Blended Course * / None / 2 weeks / $150

*As an alternative to the online course, TexasState may invite QM to provide a face-to-face session for 4 hours for up to 20 participants. The cost is $1,200 for subscribers plus facilitator travel expenses. There are no prerequisite requirements and participant materials are provided by QM.

Option 2

Options for all faculty members who have taught or will teach online:

Course / Prerequisite / Duration / Cost
ITS Advanced Online Course Design and Development / TRACS Basic / One semester – Fall or Spring / None
Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Teaching Certificate / Online teaching experience or completed OLC preliminary course: “New to Online: The Essentials” / 10 weeks for foundation course, plus 3 electives (workshops) / $1,849

Option 3

Option for faculty members who already teach online courses and wish to improve upon those courses:

Course / Prerequisite / Duration / Cost
Quality Matters: Improving Your Online Course / An online course to improve / 2 weeks / $150

Option 4

Option for faculty members who have previous online teaching experience and seek more comprehensive instruction:

Course / Prerequisite / Duration / Cost
OLC Advanced Teaching Certificate / 3+ years teaching experience or OLC teaching certificate and 1 year experience / 3 week foundation course plus 4 live synchronous sessions and a final presentation / $1499

Option 5

Instructors with significant online teaching experience and training may seek an alternative approach to meeting the professional development requirement. Contact the Office of Distance and Extended Learning for information on this alternative.

Recommended (At least 2-3 pedagogy, all the TRACS, and one other technology)

Pedagogy and Best Practices

Title / Who / Duration / Cost
How to Manage an Online Course and Still Have a Life / ITS / 1 hour / None
Introduction to Rubrics / ITS / 1 hour / None
Using Online Discussions Effectively / ITS / 1 hour / None
Online Collaboration: Supporting Student Teamwork / ITS / 2 hours / None
Survival Skills for Online Teaching / ITS / 2 hours / None
Teaching Online – An Introduction to Online Delivery / QM / 2 weeks / $150-200
Design That Welcomes Your Students / QM / 2 weeks / $150-200
Creating a Foundation with Learning Objectives and Assessments / QM / 2 weeks / $150-200
Connecting Learning Objectives and Assessments / QM / 2 weeks / $150-200
Linking Instructional Materials and Learning Engagement / QM / 2 weeks / $150-200
Choosing and Using Media Effectively / QM / 2 weeks / $150-200
Addressing Accessibility / QM / 2 weeks / $150-200

Technology

Title / Who / Duration / Cost
TRACS: Assessing TRACS / ITS / 2 hours / none
TRACS: Gradebook / ITS / 1.5 hours / none
TRACS: Grades and Assignments / ITS / 1.5 hours / none
TRACS: Lessons / ITS / 2 hours / none
TRACS: Forums / ITS / 1 hour / none
TRACS: Communicate and Disseminate / ITS / 1.5 hours / none
Camtasia Relay / ITS / 1 hour / none
Adobe Connect / ITS / 1 hour / none
Video Content Management System (not available yet) / ITS / TBD / none

Office of Distance and

Extended Learning

302 ASB-North

Telephone: 512.245.2322

800.511.8656

Fax: 512.245.8934