fbpx

Online instructor takes her skills to the next level in Professional Certificate in Online Education

Professional Certificate in Online Education

Beverly Gillen took courses for her Master of Business Administration online and enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to become an online teacher herself. That led her to Fundamentals of Online Teaching and then the Professional Certificate in Online Education, two online courses from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Professional Certificate in Online Education
Beverly Gillen: ‘As a result of taking this course, I received two job offers.’

The Professional Certificate in Online Education was perfect for someone like Gillen, who by then had gained some experience in online teaching. The certificate took her to the next level in designing and facilitating effective online courses.

“I learned many skills, including facilitating discussion boards, providing alternate forms of feedback, and creating effective rubrics,” Gillen says. “The courses were easy to navigate, the instructors were knowledgeable and personable, and the content was engaging.”

In the Professional Certificate in Online Education, students can apply new skills to their own teaching or design needs. The certificate culminates in an ePortfolio, in which they demonstrate their ability to plan online learning and make sound instructional design decisions.

As Gillen can attest, the ePortfolio has a way of impressing current or potential employers.

“As a result of taking this course, I received two job offers and am now happily teaching online graduate courses at one college and serving as the online business programs director at another,” she says. “I’m already applying the skills I learned in my new positions.”

Individualized feedback

The Professional Certificate in Online Education is taught by experts from UW-Madison’s Distance Education Professional Development, drawing on research-based practices.

“The instructors did a great job modeling the role of an online instructor,” Gillen says. “They took time to provide individualized audio and video feedback.”

Best of all, the collaborative learning environment gave Gillen a chance to make connections with fellow professionals.

“I enjoyed interacting with my peers through discussion boards and peer reviews,” she says. “The students were from many different backgrounds, and everyone seemed to be excited about learning something new.”

The Professional Certificate in Online Education is offered three times a year, beginning in January, May, and September. The next course runs Sept. 11 through Jan. 14. For more information, see the program webpage or contact Janet Staker Woerner at 608-890-3038, janet.stakerwoerner@wisc.edu.