Professional Development
Improve your teaching practice
Find best practices in online teaching and learning and a wealth of resources to help you build engaging, inclusive 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.
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.
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 an inclusive course community.
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.
AI and Education
Are you considering integrating ChatGPT or other AI tools within your curriculum? Take a peek at this practical OER resource created for educators, by educators.
As you consider what role generative AI may play within your own teaching and learning context, consider and address transparency, integrity, permission, and security.
News and Updates: Online Teaching and Learning
Teaching Online Newsletter - May 2024
Getting Started with Universal Design for Learning
March 2024
Getting Started with Microcredentials
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.