DE Certification Options
AP 4105 has defined the minimum qualifications for teaching in the distance education modality, and there are four ways in which a faculty member may be considered eligible to teach Distance Education. The following options meet AP 4105 #3 or #4. If a faculty feels they meet AP 4105 qualifications #1 or #2 (experience or education) they are encouraged to submit a request for equivalency to the Instructional Designer.
Prerequisite for Certification Courses: When a faculty member requests to participate in their first certificate option or request equivalency, they will be enrolled in a Canvas self-paced module. After reading the content, faculty will take the Online Education Legal Requirements Quiz and must earn a score of 100% and will be awarded a digital badge.
Technology Skills: Technology is rapidly changing and a faculty member with limited technology skills or are unsure where to start are encouraged to seek additional private tutoring with our campus instructional designer, technology trainer, or experienced faculty in your division. A list has been compiled with faculty available and interested in assisting you.
Cuesta Certificate Options to align to AP4105:
The most basic level will be a short-term certification that can be awarded for emergency teaching and will be valid for one year or until the end of required online teaching due to the emergency, and the most advanced level will provide a badge for the CVC/OEI course exchange. Faculty may start with the basic level and advance to additional levels when interested.
- Teaching Online Certificate (TOC): 6-week course. 60 hours total.
- Self-paced Teaching Online Certificate (SPTOC): Submission of DE course for review.
- Capstone -- OEI Badge: Advanced mentoring. aprox 40 hours investment.
New to Canvas or Teaching Online - Get a jump start and self-enroll in the self-paced Introduction to Canvas Course. This will prepare you for the start of the next term and you will then be able to move through the Certification Course faster.
Teaching Online Certificate (TOC):
- 6-week course - requires a 10-hour weekly commitment; Meets AP4105 # 4.
- Delivered asynchronously through Canvas with interactions with mentors and colleagues
- The course provides faculty with an in-depth approach to course design, explore online learning theory, online course design, create support for the success of diverse students, foster inclusion through student-centered activities and communications, apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) concepts, identify the skills you will need to make your course both technically accessible and usable to a broad range of students.
- Participants will earn an Teaching Online Certificate upon completion of course activities. The certificate will be valid for as long as you teach at Cuesta College.
- The hands-on activities will give you the chance to master using Canvas and develop your orientation module and one content module in a Canvas sandbox that may be transferred to a teaching course if desired.
- Participants in all certificate options will explore guiding principle of course design and delivery that ensures an equitable and inclusive online learning environment to support the success of diverse students online.
Spring 2023 Sessions
- December 19th - January 29th - Register - Registration Closed
- March 6th - April 16th - Register - Registration Closed
Summer 2023 Sessions
- June 19 - July 30th - Registration Closed
Fall 2023 Sessions
- August 28 - Oct 1 - (Current Cuesta Faculty) | (New Hire)
- October 9 - November 19 - (Current Cuesta Faculty) | (New Hire)
Equivalency / Self-Paced Teaching Online Certificate (SPTOC):
- Self Paced - Meets AP4105 # 3 and can be designated as temporary if requested.
- Does not require enrollment in a facilitated course and is designed to be a self-paced.
Must use the checklist to self-identify that their course meets the same standards
as the Teaching Online Certificate (TOC).
Must complete the Online Education Legal Requirements module and quiz with a score of 100 %.
May access to mentors for questions and guidance. - Recognizing the effort of faculty who created asynchronous or synchronous online course and believe their course meets the Minimum DE course structure and content requirements.
- Faculty have completed training or professional development on their own, taken workshops related to online teaching topics, or self-studied effective distance education delivery.
- Faculty should have a solid understanding of DE definitions and regulations, ADA compliance, and effective student interaction.
- Will be awarded either a Teaching Online Certificate (TOC) or an Emergency Certificate (SLEC) or (DLEC) depending on the review by the Instructional Designer or CC-POCR
Available every term
- Complete the Checklist to Self Review prior to requesting approval (enter SPTOC for Start Date).
OEI Academy - Cougar Capstone OEI Badge:
- Designed for faculty who have taught online for at least one semester
- Ready to transition their course from a basic to exemplary level.
- Delivered asynchronously through Canvas with interaction among mentors and colleagues addressing the major factors that impact student success.
- Based on the exemplary criteria from the CVC-OEI’s Course Design Rubric.
- Participants revise their course based on equitable teaching practices in four areas of the CVC-OEI Rubric; (A) Content Presentation, (B) Interaction, (C) Assessment, (D) Accessibility.
- 40-hour commitment over an agreed upon time period and requires presenting a fully aligned course for review by the CC-POCR.
- Awarded a digital badge that will be visible on the CVC Course Exchange.
Spring 2023 Academy Participate Information - Register
Email cwilshus@cuesta.edu for more information.
