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Foundations in Virtual Teaching

In today’s digital age, we’ve had to rethink how we see teaching. This Skills Pathway will help you transition from being at school, to building successful learning experiences with students outside the traditional classroom. You’ll learn how to take the same skills, tools and platforms you rely on today and apply them online tomorrow.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Design effective online learning experiences

  • Strategically foster student engagement and enjoyment

  • Support students effectively through distance learning

  • Use the latest online teaching tools

Key topics:

  • Evaluation of technology-mediated assessment

  • Virtual facilitation strategies

  • Strategies for transitioning to online

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What's included:

  • Self-paced, 100% online
  • 4 job-ready skills
  • No books or materials needed
  • Finish in approx. 30 hrs
  • Access for 1 year
  • Certificate of completion
  • 7-day satisfaction guarantee
Buy now

California: Professional Development Skills Pathways are not available to California residents.

Reasons to buy for business:

  • Employees can get registered and start learning today
  • Track employee progress

What school leaders are saying about the need to upskill

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Teachers are struggling with concurrent learning – the need to teach students who are in-person while also providing instruction for virtual students. Strategies for this may be helpful for teachers."

- Elizabeth Jamerson, Director, Human Services, Cumberland County Public Schools

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There has been tremendous growth in the need for virtual teaching skills over the past year. As we return to the classroom, those skills can be further used to enhance instruction."

- Jeff Noe, Asst. Superintendent, Washington County Public Schools

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The need for the skills required to teach online this year has been unprecedented. Being able to teach face-to-face while also providing equitable on-line instruction for virtual learners is a must.

- Sarah Taylor, Human Resources Director, Tazewell County Public Schools


Course outline

About 29 total hours · 5 modules

  • Course Overview
    • Getting Started
  • Module 1: Overview of Teaching and Learning in a Virtual Environment | 6 hours
    • Introduction to Teaching and Learning in a Virtual Environment
    • Setting Up Your VLE, Communication Strategies, and Transitioning To and From the VLE
    • Virtual Teaching and Learning Key Terms
    • Virtual Teaching and Learning Comprehension Check
    • VLE Situated Real-World Practice
    • Recommended Takeaways/Handouts/Resources
  • Module 2: Transitioning Instruction to the Virtual Environment | 5 hours
    • Introduction to Transitioning Instruction to the Virtual Environment
    • Transition Strategies and Transitioning Language Arts and Other Content Area Activities to a VLE
    • Transitioning Instruction Key Terms
    • Transitioning Instruction Comprehension Check
    • Transitioning Instruction Situated Real-World Practice
    • Transitioning Instruction to the Virtual Environment Summative Assessment
    • Recommended Takeaways/Handouts/Resources
  • Module 3: Facilitation Strategies in the Virtual Environment | 5 hours
    • Introduction to Virtual Facilitation Strategies
    • Facilitating and Supporting Synchronous and Asynchronous Environments and Facilitating Other School-Day Moments
    • Virtual Facilitation Strategies Key Terms
    • Virtual Facilitation Strategies Comprehension Check
    • Virtual Facilitation Strategies Situated Real-World Practice
    • Facilitation Strategies in the Virtual Environment Summative Assessment
    • Recommended Takeaways/Handouts/Resources
  • Module 4: Assessment in the Virtual Environment | 6 hours
    • Introduction to Assessment in the Virtual Environment
    • Virtual Formative and Summative Assessment and Student Feedback in Virtual Teaching and Learning
    • Virtual Assessment Key Terms
    • Virtual Assessment Comprehension Check
    • Virtual Assessment Situated Real-World Practice
    • Assessment in the Virtual Environment Summative Assessment
    • Recommended Takeaways/Handouts/Resources
  • Module 5: Building Communities in the Virtual Environment | 7 hours
    • Introduction to Building Communities in the Virtual Environment
    • Engagement and Enhancement in the Classroom Community
    • Building Virtual Communities Key Terms
    • Building Virtual Communities Comprehension Check
    • Building Virtual Communities Situated Real-World Practice
    • Building Communities in the Virtual Environment Summative Assessment
    • Recommended Takeaways/Handouts/Resources
  • Course Conclusion
    • Course Conclusion

Tools and resources you can access after purchasing:

  • Lesson Plan Template for Virtual Classroom

    A fillable PDF template that teachers can use to write lesson plans for the virtual environment that includes sections for each component of the lesson plan (e.g., standards, objectives, materials/resources, use of technology, supports, assessments).

  • Free Templates and Resources

    A PDF list of links teachers can use to access free educational templates and resources, such as Google Slide templates, PowerPoint themes, Bitmoji scenes and backgrounds, a virtual classroom toolkit, and more.

  • Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy

    A PDF visual of Bloom’s taxonomy that includes Bloom’s taxonomy, Bloom’s modified taxonomy, Bloom’s extended digital taxonomy, functional levels, and activities with digital tools.


Recognizing your accomplishment

Complete a skill and earn a shareable skill badge.

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Certificate of Completion

Share your Certificate of Completion and Professional Development Badge by uploading them to your social media profiles, such as LinkedIn®¹, when you've successfully completed your Skills Pathway with a score of 85% or higher.

¹LinkedIn is a registered trademark of LinkedIn Corporation and it's affiliates in the United States and/or other countries.

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Frequently asked questions

The Foundations in Virtual Teaching Skills Pathway may be the right fit for you if you have an interest in learning how to transition to an online teaching environment. This Skills Pathway may also help you grow your career in the education field.

Purchasing our Foundations in Virtual Teaching Professional Development Skills Pathway is a great first step in growing your online teaching skills. You should purchase this Skills Pathway if you're interested in learning tactics for building online learning communities.

Everyone is welcome to take the Foundations in Virtual Teaching Skills Pathway. No application is necessary.

All levels and skillsets are welcome to take this Foundations in Virtual Teaching non-college-credit Skills Pathway. There are no prerequisites for this Skills Pathway.

The Foundations in Virtual Teaching Skills Pathway is comprised of five skill modules with subjects like “transitioning instruction to the virtual environment.” Each skill module has a knowledge check and brief assessment to validate your skills. You can expect the Skills Pathways to take about 30 hours, and all Skills Pathways are 100% online and self-paced.