Online Instruction
The current faculty contract includes important negotiated requirements related to distance education, including minimum standards, training requirements, and online course evaluations. Explore resources below to learn more about meeting these contractual obligations:
DE Minimum Standards
Article 19E outlines key minimum standards for distance education instruction. You'll learn skills to help you meet these standards when you complete the required training for teaching online.
Required Trainings
Articles 19H and 19I outline training requirements for instructors who teach DE or HyFlex courses:
Core DE Training
Planning to teach an asynchronous, synchronous, combination, or hybrid section?
Click open the accordions to learn about the 3 options available to help LPC instructors meet the training requirement outlined in Article 19H.
LPC's Online Course Development Program (OCDP) is available to help instructors learn foundational DE requirements and build the foundations of their first online class.
Ideally, the OCDP is taken the term before teaching online for the first time; if needed, it can be started the first day of classes and completed during the current semester.
Email LPC's Instructional Technology Coordinator, Kat King, to sign up for the OCDP.
Instructors who have already completed an online teaching training program can submit the Exemption from District Sponsored Online Instruction Training form to their Division Dean for review.
Helpful Tips:
- The CVC@ONE Certificate in Online Teaching and Design is a popular option, especially for part-time instructors who teach at multiple campuses, as it is typically accepted as an equivalent training across districts. CVC@ONE courses are free to California Community College instructors - and some have an option to pay a small fee and earn credits, which may help some instructors advance on the salary schedule.
- Many other California Community Colleges offer a similar training to LPC's Online Course Development Program. For example, if you've completed the "Becoming an Effective Online Instructor" course through our neighboring 4CD, you likely qualify for equivalent training.
- However, not all training meets equivalency. For example, the short "Intro to Canvas" courses offered at many campuses provide helpful tutorials for instructors in all modalities, but does not typically cover online teaching regulations, like RSI, that must be part of DE training. You'll be asked to submit documentation of course content and proof of completion when you submit the exemption form.
- If you have questions about whether a training you took is equivalent and would like feedback before submitting the form to your dean, you can reach out to LPC's Instructional Technology Coordinator, Kat King.
Instructors who begin, but are unable to finish the Online Course Development Program before the end of their first term teaching online, can request a DE Committee Course Review. Under this option, a member of the DE Committee can review your course to ensure alignment with minimum standards outlined in the faculty contract in Article 19E.
To request this option, please reach out to the DEC Co-Chairs, who can connect you with a member of the DE Committee to complete your course review.
Quick Tip: No matter which option you choose to meet the core DE training requirement, you are welcome to use LPC's optional templates for online courses:
HyFlex Training
Planning to teach a HyFlex section?
Article 19I outlines a required training for faculty who choose to teach in the HyFlex modality, which blends on campus and online instruction. Learn more:
- HyFlex Training Overview and Sign-up Instructions
- Hyflex course template instructions
- Hyflex sample syllabus
- Hyflex sample welcome letter
Online Course Evaluations
The first semester you teach online— and again during the regular evaluation cycle — you will complete an online course evaluation in accordance with Article 19F.
Optional DE Trainings
LPC offers additional optional training to help you refresh and strengthen your online teaching skills. Options include:
- Workshops: Check our calendar for ongoing opportunities to learn about Canvas, Canvas-integrated technologies, and online teaching requirements like Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI).
- Peer Online Course Review: Experienced online instructors are encouraged to complete our local POCR training to align their online course to the high-quality standards outlined in the CVC Online Course Design Rubric. (See Article 19G for more details.)
- Winter Intersession Training: Our newest course helps support instructors condensing a course for the winter term. More information is shared via email and Flex Day presentations.
- CVC@ONE Training: Sign up for a free webinar, course, or certificate through our partnership with the Online Network of Educators. These are free when you sign up with your LPC email address!
DE Support
Check your LPC email for ongoing communication from your Instructional Technology team, with timely tips related to topics like: