Online Courses

Michigan Technological University offers a number of online courses and programs. To help ensure that we are providing the best education to online students as possible, Michigan Tech requires that those responsible for providing online instruction are appropriately trained and that courses meet, or exceed, a set of baseline standards rooted in research.

Michigan Tech distinguishes between courses initially designed to be taught asynchronously online ("online courses") and courses that are taught synchronously online ("remote courses") either by design or temporarily due to external factors.

Basic Standards

All course activity is conducted asynchronously using internet and/or other distance delivery methods. There are no in-person sessions and no requirements for on-campus activities. Online instruction consists entirely of online elements that facilitate the three critical student interactions: with content, the instructor, and other students. These courses are not self-paced; most assignments will have due dates, and group assignments may require synchronous meetings with group members. Online courses must be completed according to how they are scheduled within the academic calendar.

Instructors and facilitators of online courses must demonstrate that they have training in the development, delivery, and assessment of online courses, as well as proficiency with the learning management system in use at Michigan Tech (currently Canvas).

Peer reviews of courses will be conducted using a rubric designed to facilitate widely accepted best practices (currently Quality Matters).

Remote Courses

Instruction is delivered live and synchronously using internet and/or other distance delivery technologies such as Zoom during scheduled class meeting times. Class attendance is expected. No on-campus/on-site attendance is required. These courses are intended to provide distance students access to a live and interactive experience.

Training requirements for Remote Instruction are met through a focused training covering the currently supported technologies for synchronous conferencing, learning management system, and video platform. Faculty should review the CTL's Remote Instruction Resources and self-enroll in the "Teaching Tools" Canvas Course offered by the CTL. Faculty who complete the final consultation will be added to the list on this page.

Additional Course Modalities

Michigan Tech has a defined set of modalities for use in describing how courses and programs are offered. Other modalities not impacted by this policy are defined below.

In-Person

Instruction is delivered in person on a regular schedule for all class meetings. While computers and other internet technologies may be used for class activities, these courses are primarily delivered face to face in a classroom setting on campus or another specified location. On-campus/on-site attendance is required.

Blended – In-Person

Instruction includes at least one weekly in-person scheduled component that will meet face to face. Other instructional components may use technologies to supplant some, but not all, face-to-face instruction, reducing the time physically spent on campus/on site. These courses are not intended for distance learners as some on-campus/on-site attendance is required.

Blended – Remote

Instruction includes at least one weekly component that will be delivered synchronously using internet and/or other distance delivery technologies such as Zoom. Other course activities will
be completed asynchronously. No on-campus/on-site attendance is required.

Qualified Instructors

The following faculty have been recognized as meeting Michigan Tech's qualification standards for online/remote instruction:

Online: Instructors by Unit

Remote: Instructors by Unit

Procedures

Instructors / Facilitators that meet training requirements by passing Michigan Tech's ED5101: Foundations of Online Teaching or by completing the CTL Remote Instruction training, will automatically be added to the list of certified instructors.

ED5101 Interest Form

Those that meet the requirements through already approved, or similar (but not yet listed), courses or training programs must send evidence of training completion in order to be added to the list. Evidence may be submitted using an online form:

Qualification Submission Form