SUNY Online Events and Activities

Title: Creating Engagement in Online Classrooms

Date: April 14, 2026

Time: 12:00-1:00PM EST

Presenters: Dr. McKenzie Vorpahl & Dr. Christine Tinnesz, University at Buffalo

Description: Online classes do not have to feel distant or dull. This workshop shows you how to make them lively, welcoming, and engaging, while respecting professional burden and student flexibility. Creating Engagement in Online Classrooms is a hands-on session for educators and professional instructors who want their learners to feel connected, motivated, and excited to participate online. Together, we will explore practical, easy-to-use strategies for building rapport, encouraging interaction, and keeping energy high using discussion, technology, real-world examples, and thoughtful feedback. You will leave with fresh ideas you can use right away to create online learning spaces that feel human, supportive, and fun—for both you and your learners.

Free registration

Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) Deep Dive: Understanding, Planning, Documenting, and Ensuring RSI Compliance with OSCQR

Audience: Distance Learning Leaders, Online Directors, Online Managers, Instructional Designers, Experienced Online Faculty

This webinar will 1) Provide an overview of the US DoE regulation requiring Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) in distance education courses, to clarify definitions, scope, and purpose, and establish a common understanding, as well as implications for accountability at the campus, course design, and instructional levels. 2) Illustrate how OSCQR can be leveraged to build awareness about the RSI at institutional, instructional designer, and faculty levels, first by providing an overview of the OSCQR tools and related resources, and then by digging into the RSI-focused OSCQR standards. 3) Provide planning and documentation templates to support participants in creating a plan of action for their future RSI work.

Participants will leave this webinar with greater understanding and practical knowledge for how to:

• Identify the essential elements of Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI)
• Apply the OSCQR Rubric to assess and improve RSI within online and blended courses
• Evaluate use cases for practical, easy-to-use tools to assist in cultivating engagement
• Develop a plan of action to drive higher quality interactions and experiences

Registration and details will be posted soon on our website.

Title: SUNY Online Teaching Exemplar Courses for Observation Tour

Date: April 17, 2026 

Time: 1:00-2:00PM EST

Presenters: Dr. Alexandra Pickett, SUNY Online Director of Online Teaching, Dr. Brianna Gonzalez, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Farmingdale State College, and Dr. Roshanak Keyghobadi, Assistant Professor, Visual Communications, Farmingdale State College

Description: The Exemplar Online Courses for Observation program showcases outstanding online faculty, courses, instructional design, and campuses, nominated by SUNY campus-based online instructional designers. SUNY Online courses are showcased for observation as exemplary models as you create your own online course, or as a resource for instructional designers as you work with new and experienced online faculty. These courses demonstrate approaches to course content layout in Brightspace, design of interaction, criteria for assessment/evaluation, instructions, and some creative ways to implement a variety of online learning activities and objectives. 

Join us for a tour of select courses featured by this program led by the instructors who designed them with the opportunity for question and answer.

Free registration