This summer, 14 faculty members completed the Foundations of Online Teaching course, a four-week professional development program focused on quality online instruction. The course was facilitated by Gloria Washington, CTE Instructional Designer, and delivered asynchronously through Blackboard from May 8 - June 4.
Participants engaged with core topics related to online teaching, including:
- Designing aligned course objectives and assessments
- Creating accessible and engaging content
- Applying strategies to promote student interaction and success
- Using Blackboard and related tools to support course delivery
Faculty completed structured assignments in each module and received a certificate of completion. The course emphasized practical strategies, active learning, and alignment with university expectations for quality online teaching.
One faculty member shared, “Experiencing an online course from a student perspective was very useful.” Another commented, “The content was applicable and I am going to use it as I build my courses for the fall.”
Faculty also appreciated the design and pacing of the course structure. One participant described it as “very well-structured, with clear, step-by-step instructions,” while another said, “The assignments helped me clarify what my course would look like early, giving me time to improve the structure before fall.”
The use of the HIDOC framework and practical tools resonated with many. One participant noted, “I loved this course, especially the HIDOC worksheets,” and another remarked, “The weekly summaries and course teaching calendar were extremely useful.”
Faculty who completed the course are now better prepared to design and deliver effective online courses. Their participation supports the university’s commitment to high-quality instruction across all delivery formats.
Congratulations to the Summer 2025 cohort of faculty who successfully completed the course:
- Morgan Adams, Adjunct Instructor, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences
- Janice Baines, Clinical Instructor, College of Education
- Bernard (Bernie) Burk, Academic Affiliate, Joseph F. Rice School of Law
- Erin Driver, Adjunct Instructor, Arnold School of Public Health
- Scott Fairweather, Instructor, College of Social Work
- Jessica Green, Associate Professor, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences
- Suzanne Hardie, Clinical Associate Professor, College of Education
- Jeremy Polley, Assistant Professor, School of Music
- Megan Rabanal, Instructor, Palmetto College – USC Union
- Mason Rodriquez, Instructor, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences
- Sarah Rogers, Instructor, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences
- Deborah Rowell, Instructor, Palmetto College – USC Lancaster
- Brett Stevens, Co-Director of Academic Success, Joseph F. Rice School of Law
- Yanan Zhang, Clinical Assistant Professor, Arnold School of Public Health
For more information, visit Foundations of Online Teaching.