Emory Foundations for Online Teaching

Select from individual modules or complete the whole course.

Emory Foundations for Online Teaching (EFOT) is a professional development opportunity for faculty offered by the CFDE. EFOT introduces best practices and methodology for online teaching and is directed at faculty who are preparing to teach partially or wholly in an online environment. Emory faculty from any school are welcome to enroll. Course modules use Canvas, and the participant learns from the point of view of an online student. EFOT is asynchronous. All modules are taught 100% online, and faculty have the flexibility to work around their schedules to meet course deadlines.

Over the academic year, CFDE offers a series of two-week online modules of EFOT focused on particular aspects of online teaching. Participants may choose to complete all modules offered throughout the year, or they may choose the individual module(s) of interest. Each module typically equals about 3 to 4 hours of work per week. Upon successful completion of a module, faculty will earn a digital badge from the CFDE (awarded in Canvas). “Badges signify accomplishments such as completion of a project, mastery of a skill, or marks of experience,” but are not credit-bearing (EDUCAUSE). Participants who complete all five EFOT modules will receive a final EFOT badge and letter of accomplishment from CFDE.

Participants must have a computer with Internet access, webcam, and a headset/microphone. Graduate students interested in online teaching are welcome to enroll in EFOT modules through the Emory Center for Digital Scholarship.

For questions or more information, contact Stephanie Parisi, Associate Director of Online Education at stephanie.parisi@emory.edu or call at 404-727-0872.

Course Offerings

Communication and Community

March 4th – 15th

In this module, participants will explore communication techniques that support building online learning communities, fostering student engagement, and creating inclusive learning environments.

Putting it All Together (EFOT Capstone)

May 2019

Participants who complete the first four modules will be invited to complete the EFOT capstone. This final module will ask participants to use the concepts taught in the previous modules to develop and build their own online module. Participants will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the instructor for an individualized consultation and receive feedback for their online module. This module will be open for the entire month of May, allowing participants to work at their own pace.

Teaching Online Using a Learning Management System (LMS)

September 17th – 28th

In this introductory module, participants will explore best practices for facilitating online learning using Canvas, Emory’s supported LMS. This module is ideal for those new to using an LMS or Canvas.

Pedagogically Sound Course Design

November 5th – 16th

This module introduces instructional design models and strategies for developing high quality online courses, as well as writing effective learning objectives. Additionally, participants will plan and create their own instructional video.

Measuring Online Learning

January 28th – February 8th

This module addresses strategies for effectively assessing online learning, including varied forms of evaluation and the importance of aligning assessment with learning objectives.