How Do I Start POCR?

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility

DE Certification

Before you can participate in POCR, you must be DE-certified to teach online in LACCD. DE-certification requires successful completion of the following two online courses:

1. Introduction to Teaching with Canvas (ITC): This is a 40-hour four-week moderated course. 

   • This class focuses on how to use Canvas tools to create accessible content and will introduce you to the beauties of using Canvas in online, hybrid, and face-to-face classes. 

   • Simple, hands-on lessons give you the chance to master Canvas in your own practice course to build a home page, content page, discussion, and quiz, while also exploring how to use Canvas communication tools.

2. Introduction to Online Teaching and Learning (IOTL): This is a 40-hour four-week moderated course. 

   • This class focuses on online teaching policies and best practices and online course design. Great teaching can happen anywhere, but teaching online requires different skills, strategies, and tools than in a traditional face-to-face classroom. 

   • In this course, you'll gain proficiency in the unique qualities and perspectives of masterful online teaching, including powerful ways to support the success of online students, how to lay a foundation for a productive learning community, and infusing your course with your distinctive presence. We'll walk you through the pertinent federal, state, and local regulations impacting online teaching, and set you on a path to designing success for you and your students!

DE Addendum

Your course must have an approved DE-Addendum and you must have taught your class fully online (asynchronously) in Canvas for at least one term. 

Willingness to Receive Input

You must be willing to receive input on your course design and make adjustments based on the CVC-OEI Course Design Rubric and the POCR review team's recommendations.

If you meet the above requirements, please continue reading for more information, and what you need to do to get started! If you aren't there yet, don't worry! POCR is ongoing. Complete the above requirements, and jump on board when you are eligible. 

Step 2: Get Ready! Complete the "Pierce POCR Prep Course" in Canvas

1. When you are ready to start setting up your course, email Heather Kokorowski (kokorohd@laccd.edu), our Pierce POCR Lead. In your email, specify your course name and number (i.e., PHIL 006), and confirm that your course meets the three eligibility requirements listed above. Heather will set up a Canvas MasterShell for your POCR course development, and she will invite you to join the "Pierce POCR Prep Course" in Canvas.

2. A successful review process begins with solid instructor preparation. The skills and principles of effective online course design will translate to a course that meets all alignment points in the Course Design Rubric. Before your course can be accepted to POCR, you must complete the "Pierce POCR Prep Course" in Canvas.

   • The prep course includes video tutorials and recorded webinars that will familiarize you with the components that are required in a "quality-reviewed" course, including accessibility. The prep course will take about 3-5 hours to complete.

   • The prep course will prompt you to complete a Course Review Prep Form. The Course Review Prep Form is an abbreviated version of the full Course Design Rubric aimed at helping you prepare for a smooth and successful review. The Course Review Prep Form introduces you to the design elements in the rubric, and each element is linked to a page with explanations and examples. All elements of the Course Review Prep Form are described in the recorded webinars referenced above. 

3. Contact Heather for a preliminary review after you have completed the homepage with a clear course starting point, syllabus, course orientation module, and the first content module or two. Heather will look over these items and will provide initial feedback to make sure you are on the right track. You will then continue to develop the course.

4. Once you have completed the "POCR Prep Course" in Canvas, including submitting your completed Course Review Prep Form, and have aligned your course in your POCR MasterShell as much as you can (including accessibility), Heather will conduct another preliminary check of your entire course to ensure it meets all requirements for POCR. Once eligibility is confirmed and space permitting, you will be officially accepted into POCR and will be assigned to a POCR team for course review.

Step 3: Let's Go! The POCR Review

1. As described in What is POCR?, your POCR review team will review your course, and they will provide valuable feedback on design and accessibility. They will use a collaborative Course Design Tracker to document their findings on each rubric item (Incomplete, Aligned, or Exemplary). 

2. In a "Results" call over Zoom, your review team will detail their findings and will go over what needs to be done to move incomplete items to aligned. 

3. Unleash your creativity as you implement the reviewers' feedback! You will continue to work with your POCR review team until all items are aligned. 

4. Once your POCR team has approved your course, we will submit your course to CVC for official badging!