Online Learning and Teaching Certificate

Program Website: https://www.towson.edu/coe/departments/learning-technologies/grad/online-teaching-learning/

Program Director: Dr. Qijie Cai
Phone: 410-704-2545
Email: qcai@towson.edu

The Graduate Certificate in Online Learning and Teaching is designed to meet the increasing needs of PreK-12 educators, instructional leaders, program directors, professional development staff, higher education faculty, instructional design specialists, chief learning officers, and other professionals and individuals, who wish to design, develop, implement, manage, and evaluate online learning environments. The scientific research in online learning informs us that to create, maintain, and manage quality online and/or blended learning environments and programs, educators and other learning design professionals should have a deep understanding of online learning environments and principles of learning and instructional design and development.

Admission Requirements

Application deadlines and a full listing of materials required for admission can be found on the website.

Certificate Requirements

This certificate program in Online Learning and Teaching consists of the following five courses (15 units):

ISTC 603FOUNDATIONS OF DISTANCE EDUCATION3
ISTC 605E-LEARNING DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT3
ISTC 655DEVELOPING DIGITAL MULTIMEDIA MATERIALS FOR LEARNING DESIGN3
ISTC 663INTRODUCTION TO LEARNING SCIENCES3
ISTC 667INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT3
Total Units15

The coursework from this program can be applied to the existing Master’s in Instructional Technology with concentrations in either Instructional Design and Development or Educational Technology depending upon professional goals. 

  • Develop knowledge and skills of designing, developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating online or e-learning environments and programs. 

  • Develop a conceptual and practical understanding of principles of learning or instructional design and effective online teaching and learning. 

  • Demonstrate application of research-based, pedagogically effective learning strategies, appropriate organization of content, level of student engagement, differentiated learning, higher-order thinking skills, and appropriate instructor-student, student-student, and student-content interaction in the design of e-learning environments. 

  • Demonstrate skills in integrating learning or instructional design principles and procedures with multimedia technologies and course management tools to develop highly engaging and interactive online learning environments.  

  • Develop skills of planning, designing, and incorporating strategies to encourage active learning, interaction, participation, and collaboration in the online environment. 

  • Develop knowledge of legal, ethical, safe, and healthy behavior related to technology use.  

  • Develop knowledge and skills of designing, developing, delivering, and evaluating online learning environments and programs that are accessible for individuals with disabilities and are responsive to learners' diversity and cultural differences. 

  • Demonstrate competencies in creating and implementing assessments in online learning environments in ways that assure the validity and reliability of instruments and procedures.