The number of K-12 online courses is on the rise, and so is the demand for teachers who can thrive in this online environment. Teaching online can be very different than in traditional face-to-face settings. The online classroom requires a K-12 teacher to use various technologies and new forms of communication, engagement and assessment that may or may not be utilized in traditional classrooms.

This certificate program builds on your existing knowledge and prepares you to be successful in this new, online teaching setting.  You can expand your expertise to include knowledge of curriculum models, instructional methods, technologies, assessment techniques, and best practices used in fully online K-12 teaching environments. You will learn to plan for, create, provide, and assess effective instruction within online K-12 environments. 

If you are a certified, practicing teacher in Arkansas public schools, you also can earn Online Teaching, Grades K-12 Arkansas licensure through completion of the graduate certificate and passing the Arkansas state licensure exam.

K-12 Online Teaching Academy Scholarships

Full scholarships are available for 20 certified, practicing K-12 teachers working in Arkansas public and public charter schools. The scholarships will fund the 2022-2023 academic year and are provided through the K-12 Online Teaching Academy, which is funded by a grant from the Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The primary focus of the grant is to help more Arkansas teachers gain licensure in Arkansas to teach online. The application process begins April 5, 2022, and ends when the 20 scholarship recipients are chosen. Contact Derrick Mears for information or apply online. 

Upgrade Your Teaching Tools

This certificate program is designed to empower teachers to use learning technologies in online or face-to-face classroom settings, from kindergarten through 12th grade.  Learn leading-edge teaching strategies, nationally recognized best practices for online teaching, and the most prevalent technologies used in online K-12 environments.

What Can I Do With This Certificate?

A certificate in online teaching gives you a competitive edge in a field that is continually evolving. This program will help you:

• Design technology-infused instruction
• Teach with the latest pedagogical strategies
• Create effective online learning environments
• Grow with the educational needs of your school
• Earn Online Teaching, Grades K-12 licensure (for Arkansas certified teachers only)
• Apply all 15 certificate credit hours towards the 30-hour Master's degree in Educational Technology

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet University requirements for admission to the Graduate School as a non-degree seeking, but certificate seeking student as well as application requirements of the Educational Technology graduate program which includes:

• A completed bachelor's degree at an accredited institution
• An earned 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work
• A completed application to the Graduate School
• Submission of academic transcripts to Graduate School
• Submission of three professional references
• More admissions information  

Courses

• CIED 5363 - Teaching in K-12 Online and Blended Classrooms
• CIED 5423 - Curriculum and Instruction: Models and Implementation
• ETEC 5213 - Designing Educational Media
• ETEC 5303 - Teaching with Technology in the K-12 Classroom
• ETEC 6253 - Teaching and Learning at a Distance

Courses from other institutions or academic programs may not be substituted for the required courses.  Candidates for the Graduate Certificate must have a 3.0 or better at the conclusion of all course work to successfully complete the certificate requirements.