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Diane Filion Center for
Advancing Faculty Excellence

Online Teaching Certification Seminar (OTCS)

The Online Teaching Certification Seminar is a fully online, asynchronous experience designed to help º£½ÇÂÛ̳ instructors develop confidence and expertise in online course delivery. Certification is available to faculty, instructors, and others with online teaching responsibilities. Registration closes after the first day of each session.

Upcoming Sessions

July 7 – August 18, 2025
September 8 – October 20, 2025
October 6 – November 17, 2025
February 2 – March 16, 2026
April 6 – May 18, 2026
June 1 – July 13, 2026
July 6 – August 17, 2026

OTCS is intended for faculty and instructors who are responsible for teaching online courses at º£½ÇÂÛ̳.

Participants should have access to a Canvas course site (preferably a course they are or will be teaching).

We recommend basic familiarity with Canvas and other instructional technologies. If needed, visit our Trainings & Events page or request a development site through the [Canvas Request System].

TAs, graduate students, or student employees who cannot access the Canvas Request System should contact a faculty member or their facilitator for support.

Self-Assessment Option

If you have completed a different training program (e.g., ACUE, Online in 9, or Online Teaching Foundations), or have extensive online teaching experience, please complete the [Online Certification Self-Assessment]. This tool will help determine your eligibility for alternative certification options.

Am I Already Certified?

You can check your status by contacting CAFE at cafe@umkc.edu.

By the end of this 6-week seminar, participants will be able to:

  • Navigate Canvas proficiently

  • Demonstrate awareness of academic policies and learner support resources

  • Select university-supported tools for effective online instruction

  • Apply strategies to engage and motivate students

  • Develop a strong instructor presence

  • Build inclusive online learning communities

Format and Schedule

  • 100% online, facilitated in Canvas

  • 6-week duration with weekly deadlines

  • Estimated 21 total hours to complete

  • Includes regular peer-to-peer engagement

Weekly Topics

  • Pre-Work: Getting Started

  • Module 1: Preparing to Teach Online

  • Module 2: Teaching Strategies for a Quality Online Course

  • Module 3: Shaping Your Online Instructor Presence

  • Module 4: Motivating Online Learning Communities

  • Module 5: Crafting Your Online Teaching Experience

This seminar draws from evidence-based teaching models and quality standards, including:

  • Quality Matters (QM)

  • Online Learning Consortium (OLC)

  • Association of College and University Educators (ACUE)

  • Community of Inquiry (Garrison, Anderson & Archer)

  • High-Impact Practices (NSSE, Kuh, 2008)

  • Universal Design for Learning (CAST, 2011)

Contact us at cafe@umkc.edu