University of Michigan - Flint

Completion of both sections 1 and 2 will satisfy requirements for the UM-Flint Online Instructor Certificate.

UM-Flint faculty should e-mail elearning@umflint.edu to get the promotional code. Others may pay via credit card or purchase order.

Intro to Online Teaching
Blackboard Basics
Intensive Course Development
Copyright Issues
Course Quality Assessment
Intro to Graphic Design
Web Development for Beginners
Intro to Captivate

Blackboard Basics for Faculty (self-paced): Whether you want to use Blackboard as a course companion or to teach a fully online course, this will show you how to use the common, "everyday" tools in Blackboard 6. In about two weeks, you will be able to:

• Add, edit, and delete announcements, course information and documents to the system
• Understand how to communicate using the discussion board, virtual classroom and e-mail features.
• Be able to create assessments and use the online gradebook.

Faculty Introduction to Online Teaching (self-paced)

In as little as a week, this course will give you an understanding of what is involved in developing and teaching online courses. It is also a prerequisite to the UM-Flint Intensive Course Development class. The course will:

• Discuss the pedagogical concepts, trends and mechanics of online teaching and learning.
• Show you the importance of engaging students in interactive experiences.
• Help you decide the degree to which you want to integrate education technology into your teaching.

Intensive Course Development (ICD) (instructor-led): This disciplined, six-week course walks the learner through the steps of creating an online course, from developing course and learning objectives to evaluating the course.  During the course, faculty will:

• Experience first-hand what it is like to be an online learner.
• Develop a full understanding of the principles and methods of developing a course to be delivered online.

• Create the core of an online course, including learning objectives, syllabus and course material for at least two complete weeks of instruction in the course they are building and intend to teach.

Still have questions? Review the FAQ for this course. UM-Flint faculty should contact Deb White to register at (810) 766-6798 or e-mail debwhite at umflint.edu.

Copyright Issues in Online Teaching (self-paced)
This course provides both an overview for educators of copyright issues and specific information related to the online environment. Topics include instructors’ responsibilities regarding student work, graphic sources and rules for Web-based course content, fair use, database and digital rights protection, and such legislation as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the TEACH Act.

Course Quality Assessment (self-paced)
Using an Excel-based tool, instructors can assess the quality of their courses according to 60 standards and sub standards related to technology usability and instructional design. This tool provides measurement criteria, benchmarks, ratings and a weighting system to provide an overview that is as objective as possible.

Section 2 (for UM-Flint certificate, Complete at least one of the following):

Introduction to Graphic Design (instructor-facilitated)
This four-week course is designed for educators who would like to use digital photos and Flash in the classroom. It will cover design fundamentals and their practical applications for educators; technical, practical and legal aspects of using clip art, stock photography and sound; digital imaging including file extensions, resizing and retouching; and using a scanner and digital camera to capture images. Learners will create their own digital images and flash files, and will learn the basics of PhotoShop Elements software.

Web Development for Beginners (instructor-facilitated)
This course is available to all learners but was designed for educators who would like to use Web technology in the classroom. Learners will have weekly readings, participate in online discussions, research Web design topics, explore the steps required to build an effective Web site, and use SeaMonkey Composer, an open source Web development tool, to design their own site.

Intro to Captivate (instructor-facilitated)
Macromedia Captivate automatically records all onscreen actions and instantly creates an interactive Flash simulation. Point and click to add text captions, narration, and e-learning interactions without any programming knowledge.

Course Development Stipends
UM-Flint faculty can earn stipends for developing a new online course that has not been previously offered (contingent upon availability of funds). Contact Theresa Stevens at (810) 237-6600 if you would like to start on a new course.