Online Learning
High-quality learning in digital spaces
Warner has been at the forefront of online education, both in delivering online courses and in preparing educators to teach online and in digitally-rich classrooms.
Thrive online as students and teachers
Our approach
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Leverage the best of both worlds
Face-to-face and online teaching each have advantages and limitations. As an educator you want to know what they are, so you can leverage both to create optimal learning experiences for your students. -
A course is a course
Online and face-to-face versions of the same course need to accomplish the same learning goals, although they will be designed differently to achieve the same outcomes. -
Good online teaching is first and foremost good teaching
Fundamental learning and teaching principles – such as the value of choice, building on each student’s prior knowledge, collaborative learning, and “backward” instructional design, just to mention a few – apply in both modalities, so teachers can and should leverage their prior experience and current expertise when teaching online. -
“Less is more” with technology
You do not need to learn a lot of technology to design and facilitate quality online learning experiences. Learning to use the key functions of a learning management system by itself is enough to produce high-quality online courses, as long as your instructional design is sound. -
Community and engagement are key
Consistent with the “Community of Inquiry” framework, we aim for online courses that create an online community and include opportunities for:- Cognitive presence (e.g., students engaging meaningfully with the content of the course).
- Social presence (e.g., students engaging meaningfully with each other); and
- Teaching presence (e.g., instructor engaging with students, both directly and indirectly through the way the course is designed).
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Online courses require thoughtful planning
Quality online courses require time careful planning and facilitation. Whenever possible, collaborating in the design of online courses will save time and lead to better teaching and learning.
What to expect
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High-quality online learning experiences
All Warner courses have been redesigned to ensure that they employ best practices for teaching online. We have not simply moved to Zoom what was previously done in face-to-face class sessions. -
Prepared faculty
All Warner instructors have received training in teaching online and continue to be supported by online experts. -
Access to FAQs and online support tools
Visit this website for support. -
Dedicated support staff
To address technology issues, we have dedicated staff ready to support Warner students and faculty with technical problems they may encounter. Email our IT staff.
Learn about online and digitally-rich teaching
Recognizing the importance for educators to be better prepared to leverage technology – both during this pandemic and beyond – we offer the following learning opportunities:
Workshops on Online Teaching
Free for University of Rochester faculty and students, these “how-to” workshops on specific aspects of online teaching (held via Zoom) provide an introduction to topics such as how to pre-record lectures, orchestrate asynchronous discussion boards, facilitate discussions in synchronous sessions, etc.
University online learning workshops
Certificate and Special Programs
The options below may be completed as standalone programs or by adding an advanced certificate to other master’s or doctoral programs; a strategic choice of electives in both programs will add as few as three credits.
Advanced Certificate in Digitally-Rich Teaching for K-12 Schools (12 credits)Advanced Certificate in Online Teaching (15 credits)
Special Online Teaching Sequence for UR Faculty (6 credits)
Note: Advanced certificate programs do not lead to licensure or prepare students for the practice of any profession in New York State. They are designed to give professionals additional specialized insight and tools.
Master’s Programs
M.S. in Online Teaching & Learning (33 credits)M.S. in Health Professions Education with Advanced Certificate in Online Teaching (33 credits)
Center for Learning in the Digital Age
LiDA conducts and disseminates research on using technology in education, supporting technology-empowered innovations in education. LiDA serves as a catalyst for networking and collaboration on digitally-rich education and provides educators with high-quality learning opportunities to capitalize on digital technologies.
We encourage K-12 schools, colleges and other institutions looking for support with remote instruction during the pandemic to reach out to LiDA for relevant professional development offerings, consulting and other customized services. LiDA collaborates with the Center for Professional Development and Education Reform, the Center for Urban Education Success and the Center for Disability and Education to leverage the best personnel and resources to support institutions looking for support on online teaching and digitally-rich instruction.
