Teach Online

Online Instructor Certification

What is the OIC?

The Online Instructor Certification (OIC) is a fully online four-week certification that prepares USF Tampa, St. Pete and Sarasota-Manatee instructors to teach online. The course includes strategies for planning instructor presence, active learning approaches for online presentations, assessment/feedback planning, and more. 

important update / Dec. 2022 ($500 stipend)

We are focused on meeting the FLBOG's 2025 Strategic Plan for Online Education, requiring instructors teaching fully online courses (AD/PD) to complete a professional development activity for online teaching. The designated professional development platform for USF Tampa, St. Pete and Sarasota-Manatee online faculty is the OIC. The FLBOG has set a goal of 90% online faculty participation by Academic Year 2025.
 
To ensure that our institution meets this important goal, Innovative Education will be awarding a one-time $500 stipend to faculty who complete the OIC in 2023. 

Additionally, Innovative Education is also introducing a one-time $500 “recertification” stipend for previously certified faculty.

To meet the BOG requirement, first priority in the OIC will be given to those who are still pending certification; however, space will be reserved in each OIC cohort for those wishing to recertify and receive the stipend. Recertification enrollment will be granted based on cohort capacity and on a “first come first serve” basis. Any faculty member who would like to refresh their skills by retaking the OIC can register on our OIC page and select the recertification option within the registration form. If space is not available, you will receive notification and you can register for a future cohort. Only those who are instructor of record are eligible for the $500 stipend. If you are unsure, you can verify this with your department coordinator or the person in your college who schedules courses. Your department chair will be a contact point for this as well. For any other questions, faculty can email us.

Where can I register?

You can register here for the OIC. 
Please note that space is limited and first priority will be given to those who are the instructor of record teaching a fully online (AD/PD) 2023 course. 

Who is required to take the oic?

The OIC is required for those who are listed as the instructor of record for fully online courses (AD/PD) at USF. Per the FLBOG 2025 Strategic Plan for Online Instruction, instructors teaching fully online courses (AD/PD) are required to complete a professional development activity for online teaching. The designated professional development platform for USF Tampa, St. Pete and Sarasota-Manatee online faculty is the OIC.

Who is eligible for the OIC $500 stipend?

Priority will be given to faculty teaching online in Spring, Summer and Fall of 2023. But if we have availability, then any faculty who will be teaching online in the future will be extended the invitation and stipend as well. Currently, faculty eligible for the stipend, in order of priority, are:

1) instructors who are teaching a fully online course (AD/PD) in 2023 
2) instructors who plan to teach a fully online course (AD/PD) in the next 2-3 years
3) instructors who were previously certified through the OIC and wish to recertify

*IMPORTANT - In order to receive stipend, participants must 1) be listed as instructor of record, 2) complete all required assignments within the OIC, 3) and must be employees of the university at time of payment process with an active status as instructor of record. Stipends will be issued once the faculty participant has acquired certification. Those who are not instructor of record are welcome to take the OIC and acquire certification without stipend. 

If I just recently took the OIC, can I still recertify?

Absolutely. If you took the most recent iteration of the OIC launched in 2020, you can still recertify. Those who took this iteration will be submitting updated plans and sharing with peers how those plans and teaching strategies have evolved. First priority in the OIC will be given to those who are still pending certification; however, space will be reserved in each OIC cohort for those wishing to recertify.

what is the required attendance? how much time is required? 

Participants will not be required to attend live lectures or meet at a specific time. However, online office hours will be available. The course is delivered over a four-week period, and participants typically spend one to three hours per week reviewing presentations, engaging with peers, and completing assignments. Certification requires the completion of all assignments and participation within peer-review discussions. The OIC fosters a collaborative approach where you will connect with peer faculty through rich discussions. To ensure the best possible experience, each module will be rolled out weekly. 

I have never taught online. will i be able to do this?

Absolutely! The OIC has been designed to accommodate everyone regardless of technical background or experience teaching online. We recognize the challenge of learning anything new (especially technology), and the OIC provides ample tutorials and facilitator support to ensure that you can complete the required assignments and master the skills. 

I previously taught online at another institution. Is it still required?

Yes. The OIC is required for anyone teaching a fully online course (instructor of record) at USF and previous experience teaching online or certifications from other institutions are not a substitute. To meet the goals set in the FLBOG 2025 Strategic Plan for Online Instruction, instructors teaching fully online courses (AD/PD) are required to complete a professional development activity for online teaching. The designated professional development platform for USF Tampa, St. Pete and Sarasota-Manatee online faculty is the OIC.

What if I don't need to get certified but just want access to the OIC presentations and resources? 

If you are not the instructor of record of an online course but would like access to the OIC, we offer the OIC Open. The OIC Open is a replica of the certification-based OIC, but it is self-paced and does not count toward certification. You can use this as an opportunity to preview the OIC and/or use it as a training resource to build your skills as an online instructor. 
Enroll in the OIC Open

What if I am not an instructor of record? Am i elligible for the stipend?

Only those who are instructor of record are elligible for the stipend. Those who are not instructor of record may still acquire certification without stipend. Or, for immediate access to the OIC materials, you can enroll in the OIC Open. If you are unsure if you are instructor of record you can check with your department coordinator or the person in your college who schedules courses. Your depatment chair will be a contact point for this as well and/or check Oasis.