This certificate for online teaching is in direct response to a request from the Minnesota Online Alliance, a group of schools and districts offering online courses and programs for K-12 students in Minnesota. The certificate program courses already exist as on-line courses and are appropriate for preparing on-line teachers in K-12 and in post-secondary education.
The Certificate in Online Teaching (9 credits) provides a sound foundation in distance learning history, instructional design, and hands-on development of on-line courses necessary to prepare effective on-line teachers. Course assignments are centered on learning new technology skills and tools, developing individual learning objects, courses, and projects, and gaining practical experience in teaching and learning strategies for the online environment.
The certificate program courses can be transferred into the Professional Education Master?s degree program (see the Master?s degree descriptions). Students, working with a BSU advisor and their school official, must take an additional 5-10 credits related to their teaching field to complete a 14-19 credit cognate area. Students in this certificate program also complete core courses in education and a final research paper or thesis. Students using this certificate as part of their elective credits will add ED 6115 The Psychology of Learning to meet credit requirements of the degree.