Because technology is dynamic, our understanding of the most effective and responsive means to connect with students must be as dynamic. Ongoing professional development, then, is a central component to effective online teaching.
I am a huge believer in life long learning whether I am taking professional development classes through @ONE, taking graduate classes for certificates, or just taking MOCs through Coursera and Linkedin, I am always taking something to enhance my skills and keep me current in my field.
Lately, with the shift to remote instruction, I have been focusing on leveling up my eLearning instruction and design. After completing the course work for both @one certifcates and the CSU East Bay Online Learning Certificate, I decided to enroll in an MS program for eLearning at CSU East Bay beacuse I think it is important to have a theoretical and practical understanding of the medium you are using for instruction, so you can have a voice in shaping its future use not only in your classes but on your campus and in the discipline.
I also completed the Online Teaching and Learning Certificate program at CSU East Bay because I wanted to have a theoretical grounding in the best practices of Teaching and Learning online.
This Fall I have started an MS in eLearning at CSU East Bay because I want to continue to learn about online education and develop a deeper understanding of the profession.