Following on from my post yesterday about the lack of training for k-12 teachers in how to teach online during the pandemic, I am pleased to direct anyone interested to a new set of six course modules called Learning to Teach Online. These have been developed by Dr. Michelle Schira Hagerman and Dr. Hugh Kellam from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Education and are available for free as open educational resources. I am so pleased to see these being made available in this format.
The six modules are as follows:
- Relationships are Everything
- Equity and Accessibility: The Foundations for Good Online Course Design
- Planning, Pedagogies and Learning Management Systems: The Nuts and Bolts of Online Teaching
- Assessment and Evaluation in Online Courses
- Establishing and Modelling Norms in Online Courses
- Meeting Standards of Practice in an Online Practicum
I have argued that all school teachers now need to know the basic minimum about how to teach online. If you have suddenly been thrown an online class or online students, these modules are a very quick and easy way to get up to speed.
However, in the long run, I do recommend that school teachers go for a more formal qualification, such as the Master in Educational Technology from the University of British Columbia. Online learning is not going to go away, even, or especially, in the k-12 system, so you might as well learn to do it well.
Dr. Tony Bates is the author of eleven books in the field of online learning and distance education. He has provided consulting services specializing in training in the planning and management of online learning and distance education, working with over 40 organizations in 25 countries. Tony is a Research Associate with Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s Distance Education & Training Network.
Hi! Do you know of anyone that would be willing to financially assist someone with Teacher Training Tuition in Ontario? I have worked in Education for over 20 years in Elementary, Secondary and Post-Secondary environments. I have a BA Degree, a Teaching & Training Adults certificate and an Early Childhood Education Diploma. I have been looking into starting in January 2023 with Brock University’s BEd-Technological Ed program. I live far away from any of the Ontario Universities, I have two young children and I have mortgage payments and need to work to help support my family. Obtaining my certification to teach at the Secondary level would increase our family income substantially but we cannot afford to pay for the tuition to get me there. Is there anyone that can help us? Thank you!
Tough situation, Reba. I’m not in Ontario so am not aware of sources of financial support. If anyone from Ontario can suggest a source of funding for Reba, please let me know.