Online education: The foundations of online teaching

The course "Online education: The foundations of online teaching," offered by Macquarie University on Coursera, is designed for beginner-level educators working in online education. It covers essential concepts for redesigning and optimizing face-to-face teaching for online environments to help learners stay connected, engaged, and motivated.

The course content is organized into five weekly modules, including topics such as the evolution of online course design, key concepts like transactional distance and the Community of Inquiry model, cognitive load management, creating online learning communities, and emerging technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence in education. It combines videos, readings, assignments, quizzes, and discussion prompts to provide a comprehensive learning experience.

Upon completion, learners gain foundational skills in instructional design, discussion facilitation, pedagogy, virtual environments, and educational technology, and earn a shareable career certificate. The course is taught in English by experienced instructors and emphasizes practical tips and strategies to create effective, inclusive, and engaging online learning experiences.

This course is part of the "Online Learning Design for Educators" specialization and prepares educators to adapt to the growing trend of online education worldwide. It is well-rated by learners and supports career advancement in online teaching and educational design.