QM/OLC Workshops Program
The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) supports all UHD faculty in advancing their professional development through the QM/OLC workshop program. This initiative provides faculty with opportunities and stipends for online teaching workshops offered by Quality Matters (QM) and the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), leading organizations in online education. Faculty (tenured, tenure-track, non-tenure track, and adjunct) can receive approval to register for up to two workshops per year, as budget allows, each with a $150 stipend. Select your workshop and submit the application below to apply!
About QM & OLC
Quality Matters (QM) is a globally recognized leader in ensuring excellence in online and hybrid courses. With a research-backed framework and rigorous peer-review process, QM provides standards and feedback for online courses that enhance student engagement and success. Its workshops provide faculty with practical strategies to improve course quality, enhance engagement, and elevate the overall learning experience.
The Online Learning Consortium (OLC) is a leading organization dedicated to advancing the quality and accessibility of
online education. Through innovative research and professional development, OLC empowers
educators to create engaging, student-centered learning experiences. Its workshops
provide faculty with practical strategies to enhance course design, integrate emerging
technologies, and foster meaningful online interactions.
Available Workshops
Choose available workshops through the QM and OLC. For QM, select from “HE TOC Workshops” and “Higher Ed Tabs.” For OLC, choose any except Mastery Series and Certificate programs. Workshop dates are limited to only those beginning on or after September 1 and ending before June 30 of the current academic year. Once you've chosen a workshop, fill out the details in the application below - do not register yourself.
Recommended Workshops
Quality Matters
- Addressing Accessibility & Usability (April 9th - April 23rd, 2026)
The Addressing Accessibility and Usability workshop provides detailed information about accessibility, usability, readability and how to design courses with all these topics in mind. View courses from the perspective of improving accessibility and usability for learners. Get insight on Universal Design for Learning and techniques for creating accessible content.
- AI-Driven Discussions (May 4th - June 2nd, 2026)
This workshop helps educators use AI to make online discussions better. Learn to use AI tools to create interesting discussion topics that students care about. Discover how to personalize discussions for each student, and utilize AI-driven output to create and frame discussion and response activities. This workshop will help you create engaging and effective online discussions using the power of AI.
- Transforming Curriculum With Generative AI (May 4th - June 2nd, 2026)
Explore how to integrate AI tools into curriculum design in this self-paced, facilitator-guided workshop. The workshop covers evaluating AI's potential in education, using tools like ChatGPT to develop course components aligned with Quality Matters standards, and designing efficient AI-enhanced workflows. Educators will become equipped with the skills to leverage generative AI for effective course development while maintaining pedagogical integrity and high educational standards.
- Voice And Choice (May 4th - June 2nd, 2026)
In this this workshop, participants will explore the concepts of learner agency, equitable grading practices, and voice and choice in assessments through a variety of resources and reflective activities. By the end of the workshop, participants will acquire actionable strategies for creating a more inclusive and engaging classroom environment.
Online Learning Consortium
- ADA & Digital Accessibility (Self-Paced)
Improving access to online education means, among other things, ensuring that your online course materials, teaching and learning activities, and assessments are accessible for all learners. This workshop will help you better understand the legal framework for accessibility in online education and how learners with disabilities participate in online classes. You will also explore the practical application of procedures that instructional designers, instructors, developers, and administrators follow when they create ADA compliant online courses.
- Blended Learning: Creating Your Own Blend (Self-Paced)
This course focuses on examining various types of blended learning models and selecting one that allows you to meet your course goals and learning objectives. Promoting best practices in course design will assist teaching faculty members, instructional designers, and institutional executives develop a blended module design plan. The topics of the modules include a framework for blended learning, evidence-based best practices, and quality course design. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will have completed a module design plan that can be further built out and implemented at their respective institutions. - Giving Effective Feedback (Self-Paced)
Effective feedback is more than a grading tool—it's a catalyst for learning, motivation, and student success. Grounded in evidence-based strategies, this self-paced workshop explores how feedback can foster connection and continuous improvement in your teaching. Through practical strategies and flexible tools, you’ll learn to give feedback that is timely, specific, and actionable without overburdening your schedule. Whether you're new to teaching or a seasoned instructor looking to refine your approach, this course will guide you in streamlining your feedback process while enhancing student engagement. - Increasing Interaction & Engagement (Self-Paced)
Student engagement can be one of the most influential factors for student persistence and success, especially in the online learning environment. In this workshop, you will learn about the barriers to engagement and how you can best address these challenges to lead to greater student involvement and engagement. You will delve into various theories and practices that foster student engagement, including interactive discussion techniques and collaborative group involvement. You will also explore popular Web 2.0 tools for increasing student-instructor, student-student, and student-content interactions.
- Podcasting for Teaching and Learning (Self-Paced)
This self-paced workshop will walk you through the steps necessary for developing a publishable podcast, from ideation to hardware to recording best-practices to publicizing your work. Designed for aspiring podcasters of all levels, this workshop guides you through the entire process of creating a publishable podcast. Whether you’re crafting compelling narratives or conducting engaging interviews, you’ll learn everything from ideation and equipment selection to recording techniques and audience-building strategies.
QM Teaching Online Certificate (TOC)
Interested in earning your QM Teaching Online Certification? Faculty may work toward their TOC by completing any two of these workshops in an academic year through the CTLE QM/TOC Workshops Program.
Quality Matters will issue the Teaching Online Certificate after completion of all seven workshops.
- Gauging Your Technology Skills
- Evaluating Your Course Design
- Exploring Your Institution's Policies
- Orienting Your Online Learners
- Connecting Learning Theories to Your Teaching Strategies
- Creating Presence in Your Online Course
- Assessing Your Learners
Though professional development grants for online education, workshops, training sessions, and consultations, the CTLE supports faculty in their efforts to improve online instruction at UHD by promoting best practices as delineated by the various sections of the UHD Rubric for Online Instruction.
Suggested Workshops Based on the UHD Rubric
Unsure of which workshop to take? We are happy to consult with you in advance of your application. Likewise, we encourage UHD faculty to consider the UHD Rubric for Online Instruction. By running a current course through the rubric in a self-assessment, faculty can then make more informed choices about workshop options to address particular instructional needs. By examining your course through the lens of our Online Instruction Rubric, you will inevitably find areas that have room for improvement. Please consult the Rubric walk-through page, as it connects faculty to potential learning opportunities offered through Quality Matters and the Online Learning Consortium. Contact the CTLE (ctle@uhd.edu) for more information on assistance with enrolling.
Before You Apply
Before you apply, create an account at OLC and/or QM using your @uhd.edu email. Workshop registration will not be processed without an account.
How To Apply
Submit the application form below to gain approval and funding for your workshop of choice.
Once your application is approved, we will send you further instructions to complete
the registration process. Do not register yourself until your application is approved.
Policies & Deadlines
- UHD faculty may receive funding and stipends for up to two workshops per academic year (September 1 – June 30).
- Apply at least one week before the workshop start date.
- Allow one week for application approval through the CTLE.
- You must complete one workshop before applying for a second.
- Please confirm your time commitment; registration is nonrefundable.
- Non-completion of two workshops results in ineligibility to apply for the remainder
of the academic year.
Receiving Your Stipend
You must submit your UHD employee ID number and certificate of completion using this form to receive a stipend: Submit Certificate Of Completion
Sending your completion certificate to another email address and/or not including your employee number will delay your stipend.
Stipend pay dates depend on your certificate submission. Please submit by these dates to receive your stipend by the next applicable pay date. Please see below:
|
Certificate Submission |
Estimated Pay Date |
|
Sept 1 – Dec 1 |
Jan 1 |
|
Dec 31 – May 1 |
June 1 |
|
May 31 – Aug 31 |
October 1 |
Questions
If any questions about these Professional Development Grants or the application process should be directed to the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, ctle@uhd.edu or x2724.