New courses now available in Chesterfield

View coursesView courses

£500 off selected accommodation

Explore HallsExplore Halls
 Short course 

How to be an Effective Online Teacher

View Key Course Details

Online course description

How to Be an Effective Online Teacher is a learner-led, self-paced course designed to support educators in developing confident, effective, and engaging online teaching practices.

Across four structured units (approximately 5 hours each), this 20-hour course provides flexible, accessible learning that can be applied immediately in real-world contexts. Participants will progressively design and refine their own Personal Online Teaching Framework - a practical, personalised resource to guide their teaching practice.

The course follows a scaffolded learning approach, moving from foundational principles to applied practice. It integrates key pedagogical strategies including:

All learning activities are grounded in participants’ own teaching contexts - whether in higher education, corporate training, public services, or the voluntary sector - ensuring relevance and immediate impact.

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for:

How to be an Effective Online Teacher

Structure, certificates and assessment

Course units

The course is made up of 4 units, each will require approximately 5 hours of study.

The first unit explores the landscape of online education and builds a strong conceptual foundation:

  • Synchronous vs asynchronous learning
  • Key learning theories in online contexts
  • Opportunities and challenges of online teaching
  • Initial development of your Personal Online Teaching Framework

The second unit focuses on creating meaningful interaction and engagement:

  • Building online learning communities
  • Strategies for active participation
  • Understanding learner needs and behaviours
  • Supporting motivation and retention in virtual environments

This unit looks at the application of instructional design principles to create effective learning:

  • Frameworks such as SAMR, TPACK, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
  • Designing inclusive and accessible content
  • Structuring online activities and resources
  • Aligning learning outcomes, activities, and delivery

The final unit develops assessment strategies that promote meaningful learning:

  • Designing authentic and relevant assessments
  • Providing effective, constructive feedback
  • Supporting academic integrity in online settings
  • Finalising your Personal Online Teaching Framework
  • Creating a continuing professional development plan

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Building Strong Industry Connections

We believe that real-world experience is an essential part of academic success. Our partnerships with leading organisations across various sectors ensure our students gain valuable insights, hands-on opportunities, and access to the latest industry innovations.

Through collaboration with our industry partners, we bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice, preparing our graduates to thrive in competitive global markets.

Fees and funding

Fee: £150 (includes VAT)

Course requirements

Participants should have a general awareness or experience of teaching, learning, or assessment (as a student, educator, or support role).

No advanced technical knowledge is required.

How to apply

Book your place on this courseBook your place on this course

Picture of Paul Glossop

Paul Glossop
Course author

Paul Glossop, a lecturer in Initial Teacher Education, draws on extensive teaching and leadership experience to develop and support trainee teachers. He teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including the Postgraduate Certificate in Online Teaching (PGCOT), equipping educators with skills for both traditional and digital classrooms.

View full staff profileView full staff profile

Contact us

If you want to find out more about studying a short course, please contact us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Contact us Contact us

Course policies

Other courses you might like