During the Fall 2024 semester, the IDEAS team at UMass Amherst successfully facilitated a new cohort of the Essentials of Online Teaching program. Spanning from October 16 to November 20, 2024, the program brought together 15 instructors from various departments to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to create and deliver effective, engaging, and inclusive online courses.
What’s the Essentials of Online Teaching Course?
Since launching in Spring 2021, the Essentials of Online Teaching course has equipped many UMass Amherst instructors with practical strategies for designing impactful online courses, purposefully integrating teaching technologies, and receiving personalized support throughout the design process.
The course is built around five core components:
- Foundations of Online Teaching and Learning
- Online Course Structure and Design
- Assessment in Online Learning
- Engagement in Online Learning
- Communication in Online Learning
Participants explored these topics through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. They attended six live Zoom sessions and completed weekly asynchronous modules, requiring a commitment of approximately 3–4 hours per week.
Throughout the course, participants explored curated resources, engaged in hands-on activities, and collaborated with colleagues to develop practical strategies for improving their online teaching practices. Each week, participants applied these strategies to their own course design, iteratively building their online courses with feedback from peers and facilitators.
The program’s emphasis on collaboration and real-time application ensured participants left with actionable insights and a strong foundation for continuing to create engaging, effective online learning experiences.
Meet the Participants!
The following 14 instructors successfully completed the Fall 2024 course! They dedicated their time to improving their online teaching competencies.
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Gordon Anderson |
Information and Computer Sciences (CICS), College of Information and Computer Sciences |
| Richard Buckman |
Mathematics and Statistics, College of Natural Sciences |
| Isabel Castellanos |
Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies, College of Education |
| Maria Correia |
Mathematics and Statistics, College of Natural Sciences |
| Sai Gattupalli |
Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies, College of Education |
| Katelyn Hudson |
Building Construction Technology, College of Natural Sciences |
| Nathan Huff |
Psychological and Brain Sciences, College of Natural Sciences |
| Azima Majeed |
Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, College of Humanities and Fine Arts |
| Rosa Moscarella |
Biology, College of Natural Sciences |
| Maria Portilla Mayo |
History, College of Humanities and Fine Arts |
| Miah Tran | Resource Economics, College of Social and Behavioural Sciences |
| Emily Whitted |
History, College of Humanities and Fine Arts |
| Hongyu Zhang |
Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences, College of Natural Sciences |
| Jia Zhang | Afro-American Studies, College of Humanities and Fine Arts |
What Do Participants Say About the Course?
Here is what some participants say about the program:
Get Ready for Spring 2025 Cohort!
The IDEAS team remains committed to supporting UMass Amherst instructors in adapting to the evolving demands of online education. The next cohort of the Essentials is planned for March 2025. If you’re interested in participating in future cohorts or learning more about the program, visit the IDEAS website or contact our team directly at instruct@umass.edu.