Online and Blended Teaching Program

Are you scheduled to teach an online, blended, or flipped course? Are you teaching a course with synchronous online meetings through Zoom? If so, the Online and Blended Teaching Program—also known as OBTP—can help!

OBTP provides practical pedagogical strategies for teaching online asynchronous, online synchronous, blended, and flipped courses. OBTP is supported by research and has been developed by CETL staff members with firsthand experience teaching in these modalities.

To meet the diverse needs and preferences of UWM instructors the OBTP is offered as Online Self-Paced courses in Canvas.

Enroll in the OBTP Online Self-Paced Offering

Note that the workshops in OBTP focus on pedagogical practices but do NOT provide training on technology tools. For training on Canvas and Zoom, register for the Canvas Workshop Series.

Online and Blended Teaching Program

The Online and Blended Teaching Program focuses on helping instructors plan their courses for the online format using pedagogically effective methods and practices.

Core Concepts

Topics discussed in the core concepts include:

  • Overview of Online Teaching
  • Assessing Students
  • Delivering Content
  • Building Community
  • Supporting Students
  • Evaluating Online Teaching

Participants should also plan to engage in online activities. These activities will require 2-3 hours include reading content, exploring resources, and taking a quiz.

In addition to the core concepts, there are also three modules covering specific delivery modes:

Blended, Flipped, and Synchronous Courses

This module focuses on helping instructors plan their courses for the blended, flipped, and synchronous formats using pedagogically effective methods and practices.

Topics discussed in this module include:

  • Overview of Blended, Flipped, and Synchronous Learning
  • Developing a Blended Course Schedule
  • Selecting Online and Face-to-Face Activities
  • Integrating Online and Face-to-Face Activities
  • Facilitating Discussions in Synchronous Sessions
  • Supporting Students in Synchronous Sessions

Participants should plan to engage in online activities. These activities will require 2-3 hours include reading content, exploring resources. There’s also an opportunity to ask questions and continue the conversation through the discussion board.

Synchronous Online Learning

This module focusses on effective practice when courses include virtual class meetings delivered via a web-conferencing tool, like Zoom.

Topics discussed in this module include:

  • Overview of Synchronous Online Learning
  • Active Learning in Synchronous Sessions
  • Facilitating Discussions in Synchronous Sessions
  • Supporting Your Students in Synchronous Sessions

Participants should plan to engage in online activities. These activities will require 1-2 hours include reading content, exploring resources. There’s also an opportunity to ask questions and continue the conversation through the discussion board.

Large Enrollment Online Courses

  • Special Considerations for Large Enrollment Online Courses
  • Assessing Your Students
  • Building Community
  • Supporting Your Students

Participants should plan to engage in online activities. These activities will require 1-2 hours include reading content, exploring resources. There’s also an opportunity to ask questions and continue the conversation through the discussion board.

Certificate in Online and Blended Teaching

The Certificate in Online and Blended Teaching is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Office of the Provost to further promote sound pedagogical course design and practice in online or blended teaching. This certificate is different from the Badge of Completion. You need to have fully taught an online or blended course at UWM before you can apply for this certificate.

See the Certificate in Online and Blended Teaching page for full details about this certificate program, including application requirements and schedule. For questions about this certificate program, please email Amy Mangrich.


Please email Amy Mangrich in CETL with questions or interest in participating in the Online and Blended Teaching Program (OBTP).