Faculty Preparation

Faculty members who wish to teach online should not only possess basic proficiency in computer skills but should also be acquainted with and feel comfortable using more advanced programs and applications. The following technical skills, listed from least to most complex, are examples of what would be needed to teach online and hybrid courses:

Basic Computer Skills

• Keyboarding
• Audio recording (microphone)

Database Management

• Data entry
• Data editing
• Database creation

File Management

• Create & name files
• Understand file storage
• Organize and manage files
• Understand file formats (doc, .docx, rtf, text, JPEG, GIF, PDF, WAV, MPEG etc.)

Wordprocessing

• Create, edit & save documents
• Use formatting techniques (bulleted/numbered lists; page numbers, etc.)
• Insert tables, graphs, and graphics into documents
• Create Table of Contents (TOC) and Indexes

 Presentation Software

• Create, edit & save presentations
• Add multimedia to presentation
• Record audio narration for presentation

Email

• Send & receive email
• Attach documents & pictures
• Participate in email discussion groups/listservs
• Create & manage contact groups
• Create & manage discussion groups

Internet

• Understand & use different browser types
• Know how to do targeted searches
• Understand how to use online databases
• Be familiar with YouTube, Skype, podcasts, blogs, webinars & wikis

Social Networking

• Use Facebook
• Create Facebook group
• Use Twitter

Learning Management System

• Upload content
• Create, design, and edit course modules
• Make content accessible
• Create announcements, discussion forums, blogs, and wikis
• Create assessments, surveys, and polls/use the Grade Center
• Upload multimedia
• Use IM or chat
• Understand & use other learning management system tools
• Use web-conferencing applications for virtual office hours
• Use rubrics and grading tools for individual feedback

The following pedagogical skills are needed to teach online and hybrid courses:

Fundamental Principles

• Utilize learner-centered pedagogy where concepts of interactivity, instructor-led facilitation and feedback are core elements.
• Create learning activities that actively engage students and which encourage top-down cognitive processing skills (such as synthesis and problem-solving tasks).
• Accommodate a variety of learning strategies in both content delivery and learning activities.
• Develop materials and assessments that require active learning.

Management and Interaction

• Follow guidelines for regular effective contact with students in both synchronous and asynchronous modalities.
• Communicate and maintain learning objectives.
• Cultivate and develop learning communities through group activities.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of trust.
• Clarify clear participation requirements, facilitate and monitor interaction accordingly.
• Integrate practical tasks into learning activities to illustrate practical real-world content applications.
• Lead discussions rooted in inquiry that challenge students to question and develop their own conclusions.
• Provide ongoing personalized feedback and suggestions for improving student performance.
• Make additional resources available for learning.

Technology Integration

• Identify the most appropriate technologies for content and learning outcomes.
• Determine the modalities that are best used for course communication, discussion and assessment.
• Present content that is easily navigable and accessible to all learners.
• Integrate multimedia content that meets the learning needs and technology access of all students as well as accessibility requirements.
• Encourage cooperative learning through group activities that utilize current technology.
• Vet third party tools for accessibility/508 compliance, ease of use and pedagogical appropriateness.

Assessment

• Provide multiple opportunities for ongoing authentic assessment that measure both student understanding of course content and participation.
• Ensure that assessment tools are linked to learning objectives.
• Use a variety of asynchronous assessment techniques in which students are able to demonstrate higher-order critical thinking skills.
• Employ multiple assessment strategies to maintain active student engagement.
• Make use of data from the assessment tools in the LMS to evaluate the validity and reliability of the various assessment instruments.
• Incorporate surveys to receive regular constructive student feedback and integrate it into the course structure.
• Apply best practices to ensure academic integrity and student authentication in the online environment.

Accessibility

• Create or modify all course content so that it is accessible to students with disabilities.
• Design the course layout so that it is easily navigable and readable and has alternate options for students with special needs.
• Ensure that external tools and content provide students with equal opportunities and access to materials and assessments.

New Online or Hybrid Intructor Training

@One training

PCC requires the completion of a single 12-week course in order to teach in an online/hybrid format at the college. The course is called Online Teaching and Design and is offered fully online through the @One Project.

The PCC Distance Ed department can provide a “fee-waiver code” so there is no cost to you. The fee waiver code must be obtained before registering for the course. The Distance Education (DE) Department will not reimburse faculty after-the-fact if courses are paid out-of-pocket. The DE Dept. will also not reimburse the cost of @One’s credit option through Fresno Pacific University, which can be used towards salary advancement at PCC. If faculty do need credit units, faculty will pay for all course fees and there will be no fee waiver code provided.

Before you register with @One:

1. Send an email to pcconline@pasadena.edu to request a fee waiver code. Include the information about the exact course you want to take. Make sure to send the email from your pasadena.edu account so we can verify you are a current employee.
2. Distance Ed staff will then provide a code to use during the registration process with @One. The code is associated with the faculty member who makes the request, and only for a specific course section.
3. If you have limited or no experience teaching in Canvas, @One recommends taking the facilitated version of the Introduction to Teaching with Canvas course prior to taking the Online Teaching and Design course. This course is free and no registration code is needed, but you do need to register through @One to reserve your seat in the course. Not sure if you need the Canvas course first? Outcomes for the course are listed on the @One course information page.

You can complete the full @One Certificates that are offered at your option, but this is not necessary to teach online hybrid courses at PCC.

1. Previous Teaching
   If you have taught online at another institution but not PCC, you may be eligible to waive some training requirements. You will need to arrange a meeting with your Division Dean (or coordinator) and the Director of Distance Education to discuss your experience and present a course (or courses) you have taught online. Your course should include all the required elements for an online course from the OEI Course Design Rubric (PDF).
2. Previous Coursework
   If you have taken the equivalent coursework, you may be eligible to waive some or all of the PCC training requirements. Equivalent coursework means courses that cover the same learning outcomes as the required @One course Online Teaching and Design. You will need to provide proof of completion of previous coursework, as well as course descriptions. These can be sent to pcconline@pasadena.edu.
3. Depending on your past experience and training, one or more @One supplemental courses may be required to fill in any knowledge or skills gaps.
   For example: You may have taught DE in a 4-year setting in another state, so it may be recommended that you take Introduction to Online Teaching & Learning, which covers standards, regulations & requirements for distance education instruction at California Community Colleges specifically.