Professional Development
Improve your teaching practice
Find best practices in online teaching and learning and a wealth of resources to help you build engaging online learning environments. Sign up for a professional development workshop or browse through available content.
Online Course Models
Developed and shared by IOWA instructors, online course models demonstrate different ways to integrate effective instructional practices within an online course. Hear directly from your peers as they describe strategies they have applied and found successful within their teaching practice.
Design4Online
Design4Online (D4O) is a comprehensive faculty development program. Instructors work with peers to apply effective instructional strategies to the design of their online courses.
Key Online Course Components
What makes a great online course? Orient students to the course material, expectations, and structure. Provide context for learning and intentionally cultivate online community.
Teaching Online Preparation Course
This self-enroll, self-paced introductory-level training course is a useful tool for new or experienced instructors and is available for you now in ICON.
Effective Instruction Guide
Review our practical guide to help you plan, build, and teach a more effective, engaging online course. *Includes highlights from our 3-year research study of online students at Iowa.
DOE Online Course Sample Site
What does an online course look like? How can you design a more effective online learning environment? This site is both a sample online course and a guide. Layered into the content of this course is additional research, tools, and information to help instructors make the most of the online learning environment.
Microcredentials
What are microcredentials and how are they utilized in higher education?
Microcredentials offer a badge, or shareable credential, providing students and employers with a detailed record of the competencies and skills achieved in non-credit and for-credit learning opportunities. Jump-start your discovery with our quick guide.
News and Updates: Online Teaching and Learning
Teaching Online Newsletter - 2025 Issue 2
Teaching Online Newsletter - 2025 Issue 1
Teaching Online Newsletter - December 2024
Teaching Online Newsletter - October 2024
Quality Matters & Online Learning Consortium
Access free and discounted member resources from Quality Matters (QM) and the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), provided through our institutional access. Get started now with the downloadable quick-start guide.
Quality Matters (QM) - create your free account
* Select University of Iowa Division of Continuing Education
Through our institutional membership, you gain access to many free live and on-demand resources, and discounted pricing on QM working sessions and conferences. *Check with your department for sponsorship of paid opportunities.
Online Learning Consortium (OLC) - create your free account
Through our institutional membership, you gain access to many free live and on-demand resources, as well as discounted pricing on OLC working sessions and conferences. *Check with your department for sponsorship of paid opportunities.
Quality Online Instruction
Talk with us to learn more about how to integrate a new idea or approach to teaching and learning in your online classroom.