Preparing for 2020 and Beyond

Need help with online or hybrid courses?

We are here to help you take your courses to the next level. We offer support for creating hybrid and online courses as well as evaluating existing online courses.

Online Spring Development Program

modality: cohort model with weekly 1-hour meetings
location: online
commitment: 6 - 1 hour sessions

VCU Online is geared up to assist faculty that are preparing to teach online for the Spring. We want to support you with our instructional design expertise to help you pivot your course to the online environment and offer your students a powerful learning experience. Online teaching and learning can provide an environment in which you can accomplish your specific learning goals and in which your students can pursue their academic and career objectives safely and successfully. Let's work together to look at your course through a new lens and design a more equitable learning experience for your students. We have time to do one more six week cohort for spring semester. The cohort will start December 3.

For more information please contact Elaine Reeder (ereeder@vcu.edu) or register through VCU Online.

Designing for Online Instruction

modality: self-paced facilitated
location: online
commitment: 12-15 hrs of coursework
result: creation of a flexible course

Created for individuals who do not have an existing online course, participants will learn how to design an online course through backwards design. Instructional Designers from VCU Online will provide feedback on your course elements as you create them.

Best Practice in Online Teaching

modality: self-paced facilitated
location: online
commitment: 12-15 hrs of coursework
result: improved online course

Created for individuals who have an existing online course, this course focuses on aspects of quality online course management; including instructor presence, communication with students, time and work management, and accessibility.

Best Practice in Online Teaching

Make sure your course is ready!

Evaluating your course with VCU's Quality Online Course Rubric ensures your course is built with research-based best-practices. This reflection-based rubric builds understanding through evaluation.

Evaluating Quality in Online Courses

modality: self-paced facilitated
location: online
commitment: 12-15 hrs of coursework
result: understanding and application of the rubric

Evaluating Quality in Online Courses is a self-paced, facilitated course designed to introduce faculty, department chairs, deans and other stakeholders in online learning to the evaluation process and rubric used at VCU.

VCU's Online Course Rubric

You are welcome to use the rubric on your own. Learn more about its development and use on our Faculty Resources site.

Access the rubric directly.

We work with faculty to solve problems, to create opportunities, and to engage students in innovative and impactful ways

or to sign up for a course/workshop/event

May 20

Virtual Agora – Open Office Hours

May 20, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

Jan 27

Virtual Agora – Open Office Hours

January 27, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST

Apr 07

Virtual Agora – Open Office Hours

April 7, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

Jun 24

Virtual Agora – Open Office Hours

June 24, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

VCU’s ALT Lab helps the university go virtual (4/2/2020) - The lab, which develops online and technology-enhanced courses, is helping faculty reshape curriculum for students scattered across the country during…
Faculty Preferences when Teaching with Technology Survey (10/14/2019) - Thanks! The survey is over.
Teaching with Technology Showcases at MCV and MPC (8/27/2019) - Are you interested in exploring how to use technology to enhance your teaching? Not sure where to start? Your colleagues…
Professional Development opportunities for faculty interested in teaching online (8/14/2019) - We offer a number of professional development opportunities for faculty interested in teaching online. We offer fully online certificate courses…

How does this work?

1. You have an idea

You see something out in the wild or at a conference that you want to try, but need some support. Or, you're not sure what you want to do yet, but you're ready for a challenge.

2. You get in touch

You can reach out to us in a number of ways; If you prefer to learn as a part of a group, you can attend an upcoming workshop. If you'd prefer a one-on-one consultation, you can choose someone with similar interests or relevant skills and reach out to them. If you're still not sure what you need, you can attend our open office hours.

3. We create a plan

We work with you to map out learning objectives based on your course goals, connect those with existing technologies or create new ones that don't yet exist, then support you in implementing them in your class.

4.Your students engage

Whether you are looking to launch a fully online class, or just put a new spin on a face-to-face class, we can help you employ new pedagogical strategies to develop engaging and effective learning experiences for your students.

A group of faculty participating in faculty development.

About Us

We are a diverse team of educators passionate about increasing access, improving educational outcomes, and creating powerful learning experiences.

Learn more about our team and how we can help you.