The Online Teaching Certificate Program (aka New to Online Certificate Program) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts, competencies, pedagogies, and best practices associated with the development and delivery of online learning environments.
The program consists of 2 (two) online asynchronous courses. The courses are 6 (six) weeks in length each, and they contain approximately 3-6 hours of work each week. The courses are interactive with instructor feedback to participants and capped at 20 registrants.
Sponsored by the SUNY Center for Professional Development (CPD)
Target Audience:
- New or experienced online teachers (instructors, course developers, graduate/teaching assistants)
- Instructional Designers/Technologists
- Librarians
- Professional development online content developers
- Anyone who develops online learning materials
Program Learning Objectives
- Assess their own online/hybrid/HyFlex courses for quality course design, roles & expectations, and delivery strategies.
- Compose inclusive course documents and learning materials to facilitate the acquisition of stated student learning objectives.
- Develop appropriate student assessments mapped to the stated student learning objectives. These assessments may include discussion forums, written assignments, quizzes/exams, etc.
- Discuss and apply accessibility and universal design for learning principles relative to the creation of digital course materials and assessment.
- Support their online students through effective course delivery and communication.
- Evaluate digital course materials using the SUNY Online OSCQR rubric.
Program Completion Requirements
To earn the Online Teaching Certificate Program completion badge, participants must complete both courses. Courses must be taken in order as listed below. Digital badges will be awarded for each individual course, as well as for the completion of the entire Program.
Learn More about Courses
Learn More about Courses
Course 1: Getting Started with Online Instruction
Course Description: Course 1 introduces participants to the concept of online learning, teaching modalities, course design basics, and quality assurance mechanisms. Hands-on projects and discussions will lead to the design and development of new online course materials, or a revamping of existing course materials, following best practices for online course design. Course 1 is a prerequisite for Course 2.
Course 1 Learning Objectives:
- Identify campus resources beneficial for online instruction.
- Identify online course design campus requirements.
- Define teaching modalities with online components.
- Compare course design considerations between online and face-to-face courses.
- Design online course materials applying accessibility, backwards design, and Universal Design for Learning principles
- Develop effective course introduction activities and instructions to ensure ease of student navigation and success.
- Develop an inclusive syllabus.
Course 2: Interaction, Student Engagement, and Teaching Presence in Online Courses
Course Description: Course 2 explores the importance of designing for and maintaining student engagement in online courses. The Department of Education has mandated that Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) be incorporated, documented, and assessed in online courses. Course 2 will help you meet these guidelines and develop/deliver an engaging and interactive course. Inclusive teaching will be a consistent theme throughout Course 2. Before you leave the course, you will have designed/developed interactive course elements and practiced effective online communication.
Course 2 Learning Objectives:
- Identify student engagement strategies as they apply to online courses.
- Identify inclusive pedagogy strategies.
- Design/develop interactive course design elements.
- Identify and implement appropriate assessment strategies to help students meet stated learning objectives
- Create and foster opportunities for regular and substantive interactions within their courses for peer-to-peer and faculty-student interactions.
Meet the Instructor
Tonka Jokelova
Tonka Jokelova has worked in instructional design since 2005. Education is her passion and mission in life. Tonka has taught various types of learners – from elementary school, through high school, to college students, both of traditional and non-traditional ages – and in various modalities. She focuses her research on motivation in online learning and accessible course design.
Tonka’s degrees are in Teaching ESL; Philosophy (Bachelor’s), Communication (Master’s), and Instructional design and development (Ph.D.). In her free time, she enjoys photography, yoga, and baking, but she would also not turn down lazy afternoons with a good book in a park.
Course Pricing
How to Pay
Available payment methods are:
- Credit Card (Mastercard or Visa)
- CPD General Points
- Campus Check
- Journal Transfer
CPD General Points: To pay with CPD General Points, your campus must be a CPD Member. Check if your campus is a member. It is the responsibility of the registrant to determine if enough points are available to use BEFORE completing the registration process. Please contact your Campus Points Contact to determine points eligibility. If points are denied, the registrant is responsible for the payment.
Campus Check: Prior campus approval is required. Make check payable to SUNY Center for Professional Development. Mail to SUNY CPD at the address below.
Journal Transfer (State Operated Campuses Only): Prior campus approval is required. An account number with authorizing signature for Journal Transfers is required within 48 hours. You must print and return the invoice that is included with the registration confirmation email.
Important: FULL payment is required 30 days from the date of registration.
Registration
Spring & Fall 2025 Course Dates – Register for Courses Here!
- SPRING 2025
- Course 1: Getting Started with Online Instruction January 7th-February 17th, 2025
- Course 2: Interaction, Student Engagement, and Teaching Presence in Online Courses February 25th-April 7th, 2025
- FALL 2025
- Course 1: Getting Started with Online Instruction August 26th-October 6th, 2025
- Course 2: Interaction, Student Engagement, and Teaching Presence in Online Courses October 14th-November 24th, 2025
Contact Us
For programming questions, please contact Jamie Heron, SUNY Online Program Manager at jamie.heron@suny.edu. For registration questions, please contact Alli Guzman-Martinez, SUNY CPD Program Coordinator at alli.guzmanmartinez@suny.edu.