DE Oracle @ UMUC

Free and low-cost professional development resources are available for both UMUC faculty and staff through a variety of sources including UMUC, local institutions, and online educational organizations.

The Accessibility in Distance Education (ADE) Web site focuses on helping faculty develop accessible online learning materials for people with disabilities. It is divided into five major sections, targeting common accessibility questions.

In Fall 2008, CSI introduced DE Oracle Live sessions. Using the Wimba system, live presentations will be given on topics of interest to faculty. Archives of these presentations will also be made available for viewing for those unable to attend the live sessions.

Classroom Commentary: Case Studies on Faculty-Student Interaction is an online faculty development workshop that explores issues related to faculty-student classroom interaction. Through the video vignettes presented in Classroom Commentary, UMUC staff members hope to open a window to some interaction challenges faced by faculty in both the online and face-to-face learning environment. The cases are based on real-life experiences, and were created specifically to help faculty prevent these types of issues from arising in their classes, and to handle them fairly and equitably in the event that they do occur.

Classroom Commentary: Case Studies on Faculty-Student Interaction is an online faculty development workshop that explores issues related to faculty-student classroom interaction. Through the video vignettes presented in Classroom Commentary, UMUC staff members hope to open a window to some interaction challenges faced by faculty in both the online and face-to-face learning environment. The cases are based on real-life experiences, and were created specifically to help faculty prevent these types of issues from arising in their classes, and to handle them fairly and equitably in the event that they do occur.

UMUC is known for its caring and committed faculty. However, faculty members face many challenges as they strive to meet the needs of a diverse, world-wide student body. How can faculty cope effectively with such diversity in the classroom? Many faculty members have met this challenge through the creative combination of sound pedagogy and innovative technological resources.

The Center for Teaching and Learning has been steadily expanding the number of workshop topics and availability of sections they offer to faculty.

UMUC faculty currently have free access to 2,180 different self-paced, online courses offered through UMUC's partnership with SkillSoft.

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) offers a Workshop Certificate Program (WCP)to all UMUC faculty.

Making time for training can often be one of the biggest challenges in faculty development.