Are you a graduate student or postdoc looking for a credential that shows your proficiency in developing and teaching online courses? This hybrid course is a great place to start! Digital Learning and Teaching and Learning Innovation (TLI) are teaming up to offer the Introduction to Online Teaching Seminar for Graduate Students and Postdocs in Spring 2026. Over six weeks, participants will engage in asynchronous learning activities, complemented by four synchronous Zoom workshops. Topics include assessment strategies, student engagement, content creation, universal design for learning, and generative AI in teaching and learning.” By the end, you’ll have a framework for creating engaging online courses that will support you throughout your career. It’s a great way to strengthen your teaching toolkit and prepare for future online course opportunities. This seminar includes four synchronous workshops held on Zoom on Wednesdays from 2:30 – 4:00 PM EST. Participants are expected to attend at least three of the four scheduled workshops and complete all deliverables to earn their certificate of completion. Participants should expect to spend around 2-3 hours on weekly activities. The synchronous sessions are scheduled for the following dates: January 28, 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET February 4, 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET February 18, 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET March 4, 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET

This interactive session will explore how generative AI can be used as a learning partner to cultivate higher-order thinking and critical engagement in the classroom. Participants will engage in hands-on exercises and reflect on ways to integrate AI meaningfully into teaching. The session will also focus on insights from the “Thinking Critically with Generative AI” project, recently piloted at UTK, showcasing how effective AI integration can support student reasoning, higher order thinking, and critical reflection.  ============================================================================= Dr. Fatima Zahra is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is also the founder of Artificial Intelligence, Race, and Evaluation (AIRE) Lab based at UTK. Her work focuses on designing socially just, culturally responsive education and labor market interventions that leverage technology responsibly. At AIRE Lab, she and her team explore how artificial intelligence, evaluation, and policy can disrupt inequalities and expand opportunities for marginalized communities.

A new semester brings fresh energy and new opportunities to create engaging, successful online courses. But what approaches help instructors set their courses up for success from day one? In the first Brown Bag of the semester, Digital Learning will host a panel discussion with experienced online instructors who will share practical insights on online course structure, learning activities, communication norms, and the metrics they use to support student engagement and smooth course delivery. Attendees will leave with concrete examples of tools and strategies to build thoughtful, engaging learning experiences.

This session offers an opportunity for instructors to engage in a live, informal conversation about teaching and learning in digitally supported environments. Facilitated by Tricia Bertram Gallant, the author of The Opposite of Cheating, the session will focus on themes raised throughout the Lifelong Learning Book Club series, and their relevance to contemporary instructional practice. Participants will have the chance to explore ideas related to course design, assessment, and learning cultures, and to consider how trust, transparency, and student engagement can be supported across instructional contexts. This Brown Bag is presented in collaboration with Teaching and Learning Innovation, and the Department of Psychology.

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Are you interested in promoting quality online learning at UT? Are you looking for opportunities to either enhance the quality of your online course through a peer review, or support a colleague with valuable feedback? We are hosting three drop-in information sessions for those interested in learning more about Digital Learning's Engaged Online Course review process. Bring your questions regarding becoming a Peer Reviewer or having your course reviewed. Join UT’s Engaged Online Course Coordinator for one of these 30-minute sessions.

In response to popular demand and the rapidly evolving world of Generative AI (GenAI), Digital Learning is launching a GenAI-focused Community of Practice for UTK online instructors. This community will provide a space for faculty, staff, and instructors to come together, share their experiences using GenAI, and learn from one another. Whether you want to show how you’re using GenAI in creative ways or are simply curious about how others are incorporating it into their teaching and professional work, this is the place for you. Join DL staff and your peers to explore unique use cases, exchange ideas, and discover new possibilities. The main goal of this community is “show and tell.” Come prepared to share how you have used, or attempted to use GenAI, and hear from colleagues who are experimenting with GenAI. Each session lasts 45 minutes.

In response to popular demand and the rapidly evolving world of Generative AI (GenAI), Digital Learning is launching a GenAI-focused Community of Practice for UTK online instructors. This community will provide a space for faculty, staff, and instructors to come together, share their experiences using GenAI, and learn from one another. Whether you want to show how you’re using GenAI in creative ways or are simply curious about how others are incorporating it into their teaching and professional work, this is the place for you. Join DL staff and your peers to explore unique use cases, exchange ideas, and discover new possibilities. The main goal of this community is “show and tell.” Come prepared to share how you have used, or attempted to use GenAI, and hear from colleagues who are experimenting with GenAI. Each session lasts 45 minutes.

Grow your skills in online classroom management with our Online Course Delivery training, part of the Online Teaching and Learning Certificate Series. In this facilitated, asynchronous two-week course, you will be empowered to effectively teach online, addressing common challenges associated with online teaching. You will explore social presence and engagement strategies, leverage instructional technologies for better course management and communication, and strategies for providing meaningful feedback to foster student success. By the end of the course, you will be ready to teach an interactive, inclusive, and well-managed online course. This course runs from March 30 to April 10.

Transform your online course(s) with our Online Course Design training, part of the Online Teaching and Learning Certification series. In this facilitated, asynchronous two-week course, you’ll master the Backward Design framework, craft clear learning outcomes, and practice developing assessments and learning activities with the assistance of Generative AI. Join us to apply these essential design principles to create impactful, well-structured online courses. This course will run from February 2 to 13.

Elevate your online courses with our Online Course Development training, part of the Online Teaching and Learning Certificate series. In this facilitated, asynchronous three-week course, you’ll explore practical strategies and tools to build a dynamic Canvas course that captivates and supports your students. Develop engaging materials that enhance the online learning experience with the assistance and expertise of an Instructional Designer from Digital Learning. Join us and transform your course content into an interactive and impactful journey for your students. This course runs from February 23 to March 20.

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Engaging students in online courses continues to be a significant challenge across higher education. Based on practical examples and research‑supported strategies, this session highlights how to help students understand the deeper purpose behind course content, while intentionally leveraging pop culture as a powerful pedagogical tool to increase motivation, and foster community within online classrooms. In this session, Instructional Designers Scarlett Lopez and Jennifer Chien will explore the benefits of pop culture use, as well as the risks of cultural misalignment, and stereotype reinforcement. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to integrate thoughtful cultural references, clarify the “why” behind course content, and create more relatable and meaningful online learning experiences.

This is an instructor focused workshop and only faculty/staff or GTAs may enroll.

As generative AI tools sweep across Higher Ed, many of us find ourselves in a kind of academic Wild West—full of potential, full of uncertainty, and full of conflicting assumptions about what’s allowed. Clear AI policies can help “tame the terrain” by giving us a framework for teaching, assessing, and supporting academic integrity, while also giving students a shared understanding of expectations. In this OLCoP session, Hannah Ruehl, Instructional Designer, and Jason Johnston, Executive Director of Online Learning and Course Production, share a set of practical “ordinances” we’ve developed for taming the Wild West of AI on our own frontier—resources you can immediately download and adapt into your Canvas course. We’ll also explore ways to meaningfully involve students in shaping AI norms, turning the classroom from a one-sheriff town into a collaborative learning community. Most of our time together will be spent in open conversation, giving participants space to swap stories from their own territories—what’s worked, what hasn’t, and where the bandits still roam. Come ready to share your Western adventures with AI.

Teaching with Generative AI is an introductory three-week, asynchronous course designed to help educators build practical skills for using generative AI tools in their teaching. In this course, you will explore the basics of Generative AI (GenAI), examine real-world examples of its use in education, and gain hands-on experience with tools that can support both teaching and learning. The course also addresses key ethical, privacy, and academic integrity considerations, helping you make informed decisions about incorporating AI in your courses. In addition, you will learn strategies for guiding students in the appropriate and responsible use of AI within academic contexts. This course runs from April 13 to May 1.

This is an instructor focused workshop and only faculty/staff or GTAs may enroll.