Teaching in Shared Programs and DLC Courses
Teaching courses shared across campuses within a Shared Program and/or on the Digital Learning Cooperative (DLC) requires unique considerations in any teaching mode. This program includes a variety of experiences including a live training, asynchronous learning, content development, and conversations with colleagues, all developed to improve the quality of teaching and learning in shared courses.
Components
Required:
- Teaching on the DLC Orientation: Parts 1 and 2
- Online Synchronous Modules of the Teaching Online Program (TOP)
- Reflective Statement
Optional (choose one of the following):
- Attend Hybrid/Online Cross-Campus Teaching Circle
- Participate Shared Courses Teaching Shapes
- Present at Commonwealth Connections: Instructor Days
Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Jennifer Wagner at jlw83@psu.edu least 2 weeks prior to the start of the individual event to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.
Completing the Endorsement
Check back for details on how to submit required items to earn the Provost Endorsement.
Required Components
You must complete the following.
Teaching on the DLC Orientation
Teaching on the DLC Orientation Workshops
This 2-part series guides instructors as they prepare to teach a DLC course to students at multiple campuses. The 1-hour sessions cover the essentials from logistical processes to pedagogical approaches, and everything in between. The interactive sessions provide opportunities to reflect on current and future teaching strategies.
Part 1: Setting up for Success
The first workshop will focus on essential considerations for teaching a successful DLC course. Topics include modifying your syllabus for multi-campus students, scheduling Zoom meetings in Canvas, planning for weather disruptions across campuses, establishing webcam policies, assessing students at a distance, and more. Faculty will gain practical insights and tools to confidently navigate the transition to multi-campus remote instruction.
Part 2: Designing for Engagement
In the second workshop, we will explore strategies to enhance interaction, promote active learning, and build community with all students, regardless of location. This interactive session includes demonstrations of interactive whiteboards, annotation tools, live polling, and more. Whether you’re new to remote teaching or looking to elevate your current practices, faculty will learn practical strategies and tools to create a rigorous and impactful multi-campus DLC course.
Upcoming Workshop Dates
Workshops are offered each August and January. Check the Events page for upcoming sessions and registration information.
TOP: Online Synchronous Modules
Teaching Online Program (TOP): Online Synchronous Modules Levels 1-3
Complete the Online Synchronous modules of the Teaching Online Program (TOP) for each Level 1, 2, and 3. These self-paced modules focus on the synchronous mode of teaching online. Each module includes 1-2 assignments that require participants to either apply the concepts from the module to their teaching and/or reflect on their teaching practice. Participants are paired with an instructional designer who provides support and feedback on completed activities.
Note: The Online Synchronous module is an ‘Optional’ component of the TOP program. While housed in the TOP courses, this is a separate module from what is required for the TOP Provost Endorsement.
Registration
Reflection Statement
Reflection Statement
To complete the Shared Courses Provost Endorsement, instructors will write a reflective statement highlighting their learning in the different elements of the program and sharing what changes they have applied to their courses.
Elective Components
Choose one of the following.
Attend Hybrid/Online Teaching Circle
Hybrid/Online Teaching Circle
Attend three Hybrid/Online Teaching Circle meetings. Cross-Campus Teaching Circles (CCTC) are informal faculty gatherings around a specific topic, in this case Hybrid and Online teaching. While the sessions are facilitated by instructional designers, the topics and discussions are faculty driven based on the participants experiences, questions, and areas of interest.
Participate in Shared Courses Teaching Shape
Shared Courses Teaching Shapes
The semester long program provides the opportunity to observe peers who are also teaching in different remote modes used for shared courses. It includes a kick-off meeting, observing 2-3 peers’ classes, attending a square share session and wrap-up meeting.
Registration
Please register in advance.
Present at Commonwealth Connections: Instructor Days
Commonwealth Connections: Instructor Days
Commonwealth Connections: Instructor Days is a virtual event held each fall in which colleagues from across Penn State to share ideas and join in discussions related to teaching and learning. The event consists of discussion-driven sessions led by faculty from the commonwealth campuses on a variety of topics related to teaching and learning.
If you have a teaching strategy or success from your shared/DLC course, please consider sharing for 5-10 minutes on how you have found success in your teaching across campuses at the CCID event.
Request for Proposals
The request for proposals form is available in April. Check Commonwealth Campus Teaching Support website for details.
Adaptation of Instructional Practice and Reflective Statement
Upon completion of the required and optional components, please reflect on any adjustments or new teaching strategies you’ve implemented, as well as your experience in the Provost Endorsement Program. In which DLC and Shared Courses teaching components did you participate? What were your biggest take-aways from the activities that you participated in? Describe any adjustments you made to your teaching since participating in the Provost Endorsement Program – this could include implementing a new technology (Zoom polls, TopHat, or Kaltura) to increase student engagement, or redesigning a lesson to include formative assessments.