Harpur Instructors
Winter 2027 student instructors required to complete the training during the Fall 2026 semester will be contacted directly.
Successful completion of the BU Certification for Advanced Teaching Online is REQUIRED before student instructors are allowed to teach online/hybrid courses in Harpur College, unless the instructor applies for, and is granted, an exemption.
The Harpur Dean's Office will consider petitions for exemption from the program and will contact the instructor via email with a decision.
Instructors who have previously completed this Certification OR the Harpur Program on Online Teaching Pedagogy are not required to do so again. If you have any questions, please contact Kaitlin Maynard.
Course Information
This Certification can be fully completed through Brightspace, and is required for student instructors to be eligible to teach online/hybrid courses during summer and winter sessions. Your course(s) will be canceled if you fail to successfully complete the Certification or gain an exemption prior to the start of the course.
Current 91ÉçÇø faculty members are not required to complete this training, but are encouraged to utilize it as a resource when building and teaching online/hybrid courses.
Description
In this course, instructors will explore the most up-to-date research and best practices that shape how teaching and learning happen in our online space(s) here at 91ÉçÇø. We will go over key instructional design concepts, innovative technologies, and best practices, all specifically for the online space. Over the course of 8 modules, instructors will reflect on their learning in optional exercises meant to help build and/or strengthen their courses and teaching practices. In each module there is an automated quiz that is required to obtain the Certificate of Completion.
Topics
- Module 0: Getting Started
- Module 1: Intro to Online Teaching and Learning
- Module 2: Organization and Planning
- Module 3: Creating Engaging Content
- Module 4: Building Community and Managing Your Course
- Module 5: Assessment, Feedback, and Grading
- Module 6: Making Your Course Accessible and Equitable
- Module 7: You've Only Just Begun!
Enrolling in the Certification Course
This is a self-enrollment course located on Brightspace.
- Login to Brightspace.
- Click Discover in the main navigation bar.
- Select the BU Certification for Advancing Teaching Online.
- Click Enroll in Course.
Course Completion
To earn the certificate of completion for this course, you must complete the following:
- Earn at least an 80% on each unit quiz
- Complete the Brightspace Training Assignment
Once you have completed all that is listed above, your certificate will appear under Awards in the course navigation. You can generate a PDF of this certificate by clicking on the certificate name and selecting generate.
Program Completion & Due Date
Completion is due by December 8, 2026 for those instructors teaching in the Winter 2027 term.
At the close of the program, the Harpur Dean’s Office is sent the names of those who have successfully completed the program. These individuals’ online/hybrid courses will be approved. Failure to complete the Certification or receive an exemption by the indicated date will result in course cancellation.