Join our SUNY Online Teaching
Fellows Community of Practice

The SUNY Online Teaching Community of Practice is focused on SUNY online learning practitioners; however, we recognize the benefits of extending our Community to include non-SUNY online teaching practitioners. Select this role if you are interested or experienced in online teaching and learning in any capacity and are not employed by SUNY or a member of the SUNY academic community.

Expectations:

• Be willing to engage with peers and consider participation in SUNY Online professional development activities and events.
• Stay informed on the latest information about effective practices in online education.
• Actively engage in online and face-to-face forums in the SUNY Online Teaching Community.

Join here to be a Friend of SUNY fellow!

Select this role if you have little or no experience in online education, and are interested in learning more about online teaching and learning, or you just want to keep up to date with SUNY Online Teaching activities. 

A SUNY Online Teaching Fellow in the Interested role would be anyone on a SUNY campus interested in:

• Gaining a broad understanding of online education and learning about online teaching in SUNY.
• Actively participating in the SUNY Online Teaching Community of Practice.

and/or

• Designing and delivering effective, efficient, and engaging online environments.
• Learning more about effective online teaching practices.

More specifically, you should meet the following criteria:

• 0-2 years of experience in online education
• a role on a SUNY campus.
• a willingness to learn more and engage actively in the community of practice.

Expectations:

• Be willing to engage with peers and consider participation in SUNY Online professional development activities and events.
• Stay informed on the latest information about effective practices in online education.
• Actively engage in online and face-to-face forums in the SUNY Online Teaching community.

Join here as an Interested fellow!

Select this role if you meet the criteria as evidenced by your responsibilities in teaching online or supporting those who teach or learn online, AND if you are willing to make the specified commitments to the community of practice OR you just want to keep up to date with SUNY Online Teaching activities.  The Experienced role is intended to recognize all individuals who have experience contributing to high quality online teaching and learning.

A SUNY Online Teaching Fellow in the Experienced role would be anyone on a SUNY campus meeting the following criteria with any of the related titles or job responsibilities:

• Online Educator / Faculty: Has received formal training and has experience teaching a minimum of 3 semesters in an online or blended format within the last 5 years. Emeritus faculty are exempt from requirement if they have taught online.
  
  
• Online Instructional Designers: Bachelor’s degree along with formal training and expertise in supporting faculty in the design and development of effective online and blended learning environments, including experience supporting the design and/or development of at least 3 online or blended courses.
  
  
• Online Faculty/Technology Support: Technologists, LMS administrators, faculty developers, instructional designers who do not teach online or do not review courses. Has three current years’ professional experience providing instructional support and training for online programs, students, or faculty. (Related Interest Groups: The Educational Technology Officers Association (EdTOA) and SUNY Computing Officers Association (COA))
  
  
• Online Program Manager/Administrator: Expertise in online administration specific to online teaching, leadership, support, administration. Has expertise in administering or overseeing online programs with at least 3 current years professional administrative experience. (Related interest Groups: Directors of Online and Distance Learning Environments (DOODLE) and SUNY Council of Chief Information Officers (CCIO))
  
  
• Multimedia Developer/Designer: Has 3 current years of experience and training in developing or designing effective multimedia objects used in online courses, such as Audio, Video, Animation, Simulation, Gaming, Graphic Design, etc. Recognizes that effective multimedia design incorporates current best practices including Universal Design and ADA compliance. (Related Interest Groups: The Educational Technology Officers Association (EdTOA))

• Learning Resource Expert – Provides library support for online courses (e.g., online learning librarian, online course support or enhancement) with 3 current semesters of experience collaborating with online faculty. (Related Interest Groups: SUNY Librarians Association (SUNYLA))

• Online Student Support – Those in Student Support/Affairs roles that support students in online programs. Three current years of professional experience providing online student support (e.g., Help Desk, Learning Concierges, Advisors).
  
  
• Student Assistant – Students (e.g., graduate assistant) with at least 3 current semesters of experience in online teaching and learning support roles. This by its nature is a transitory role.

Expectations:

• For Faculty: Willingness to share online teaching and course design tips and suggestions, and to participate as a course reviewer and/or have one’s online course reviewed.
• For IDs: Participate as a course reviewer and/or have one’s online course reviewed.
• For all Online Practitioners:
  1. Engage in basic professional development (e.g., workshops, training) in online education and to build on competencies and engage actively in the community of practice. Informally support peers.
  2. Proactively seek the latest information in effective practices and use of technologies in online education.
  3. Continuously improve online practices and build on competencies (e.g., SUNY Online professional development).
  4. Initiate and actively engage in online forums in the SUNY Online Teaching community.

Join here to be an Experienced Online Practitioner!

Expert Online Instructional Designers (ID) have significant expertise supporting faculty in the design and development of effective online teaching and learning environments. Select this role if you meet the specific expertise criteria, and are willing to make the specified commitments to the Community of Practice.

An Online Teaching Exemplar, Coach, and Mentor will have significant recent experience or expertise in online teaching and learning and be willing to coach and mentor other faculty. Individuals in these roles are actively involved in the online teaching and learning community through participation in SUNY communities, like SUNY Online, Directors of Online and Distance Learning Environments (DOODLE) and/or national associations like Online Learning Consortium (OLC), University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET), or Quality Matters (QM).  Select this role if you meet the specific expertise criteria for this role, and are willing to make the specified commitments to the Community of Practice.

Criteria:

• Has taught at least 3 courses in an online/blended format within the last 2 years.
• Models best practices in online teaching.
• Demonstrates evidence of positive informal student feedback (e.g., emails, blog posts).
• Demonstrates teaching expertise through various forms of recognition (e.g., awards, honors).
• Has been formally trained in online teaching and learning best practices (e.g., SLN/Open SUNY/SUNY online course, Sloan/OLC workshops, Quality Matters).
• Demonstrates evidence of formal or informal mentoring or coaching to online instructors in their campus community.

An Exemplar, Coach and Mentor commits to:

• Participate in professional development for continuous improvement.
• Conduct online course reviews.
• Formally or informally mentor or coach online instructors.
• Actively engage in online forums in SUNY Online community and contribute online teaching & learning expertise (through webinars, discussion forums, white papers, and other means of sharing expertise).

Join here to be an Exemplar, Coach, and Mentor fellow!

An Online Innovator/Researcher is engaged in scholarly work on how people teach and learn in technology-mediated environments, and/or engaged in innovation using practices of technologies that push the boundaries of online teaching and learning with at least 3 years professional experience in online education. Select this role if you meet the specific expertise criteria for this role, and are willing to make the specified commitments to the Community of Practice.

Criteria:

• Has at least 3 years professional experience in online education.
• Evidence of scholarly publishing such as publication in peer-reviewed journals, and invitations for keynote address presentations.
• Evidence of online teaching and learning innovation that are recognized with awards or other honors.
• Evidence of innovation in online education that is grant-supported.
• Evidence of active involvement in associations, organizations, or bodies related to online education, such as holding nominated or elected positions on online learning-related boards, councils, or commissions at the state or national level.
• Commitment to engage actively in the online community, share research, and further the community’s knowledge of effective online teaching & learning.

An Innovator and/or Researcher commits to:

• Conduct or contribute to research on effective online learning practices and participate in bodies setting campus and system direction in online education.
• Informally support peers.
• Share findings and expertise through webinar, white paper, or resource on an effective practice.
• Actively contribute in online and face to face forums, answer peer questions, and assist others as needed.

Join here to be an Innovator and/or Researcher fellow!