Teaching Online
This resource page is designed to highlight the most important and relevant aspects of teaching and learning online for faculty. If this page does not explicitly call out a topic it will direct you to the resource where you can learn more. Distance Education (a.k.a “online teaching”) is supported at City by the Distance Learning Committee and Professional Learning. The District office of Online Learning Pathways also provides robust support for all faculty teaching online throughout the District.
Quick Links
- Distance Education Toolkit (Canvas learning community shell)
- District Online Learning Pathways
- Distance Education Handbook
- Sample syllabus (Canvas page)
- Pre-semester checklist
- City's Online Faculty Member Help Blog
Request support for your online course through either a live Zoom Open Lab session or the 3-IDeas asynchronous coaching program. Open Lab provides just-in-time help with course design, technology tools, student engagement, and regular and substantive interaction (RSI). 3-IDeas offers individualized instructional design feedback from the Distance Learning Committee (DLC), grounded in online course design standards and equity-focused rubrics. Complete this form to receive focused support tailored to your needs.
Faculty Open Labs
- 💻 Every Monday on Zoom from March 6 - April 27, 2026 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- Register to receive the Zoom link
- Earn flex credit for attendance
3-IDeas Peer Coaching
- 💡Get three actionable improvement ideas from a faculty peer
- Earn flex credit for participating
| First Name | Last Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aileen | Gum | Online Faculty Mentor | [email protected] |
| Tucker | Grimshaw | Accessibility Mentor | [email protected] |
| Marco | Anzures | Professional Learning Coordinator | [email protected] |
Get Certified to Teach Online
The Online Faculty Certification Program covers distance education guidelines, pedagogy for online instruction, and the California Virtual Campus (CVC) Rubric. This program may take up to 20 hours to complete depending on your experience, dedicated time, and effort. The course is delivered by our District friends at Online Learning Pathways. Register Now.
Course Evaluation Rubric
Use this rubric, adapted by Mesa College’s MOST team, to help you or your faculty evaluation committee assess the quality of your online course. This is a quick reference rubric when you are short on time. Use the Course Design Rubric for a more in-depth assessment of your online course.
Course Design Rubric
The CVC-OEI's Course Design Rubric (Canvas login required) was developed in 2014 to establish standards in online courses related to course design, instruction, learner support, and accessibility. The rubric promotes a quality learning environment that supports student (and instructor!) success. It was created by CVC-OEI but was greatly influenced by previous work done by @ONE, the CCC Distance Education Coordinators Organization, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC), and the CCC Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO).
Peer Feedback
3-IDEAS is an instructional design support program that connects faculty with their peers for fresh, practical ideas to enhance online teaching. Faculty simply complete a short request form describing a specific need or challenge in their course. In return, three experienced peer faculty review the request and each offer one tailored suggestion to improve course design, engagement, or accessibility. This quick, collaborative exchange fosters innovation while building a supportive teaching community.
Instructional Design Support
Our friends at SDCCD Online Learning Pathways offer one-on-one support to review your Canvas course and offer in-depth and expert advice on making improvements. You can contact them directly to set up an appointment:
- Liesl Boswell, Instructional Design Supervisor
- Chris Rodgers, Instructional Design Coordinator, Online Learning Pathways
Accessibility Mentor
The SDCCD Online Accessibility Mentors are here to assist you in making your online course content accessible for all students. Each of our colleges has its own dedicated and knowledgeable faculty mentor who offers one-on-one meetings and monthly workshops. Schedule a meeting or attend a workshop session today!Definition
RSI is required by federal law (34 C.F.R. § 600.2), necessary for accreditation compliance (ACCJC Policy on Distance and Correspondence Education; Standard 2.6), aligned with District policy (AP 4105), and vital for creating high-quality, equitable online learning experiences.
RSI is specifically assessed within asynchronous courses, although it is required in all online modalities. The following criteria are required for all asynchronous courses at San Diego City College:
- At a minimum, provide weekly, instructor-initiated, and substantive interaction.
- Include at least two types of substantive interactions, balanced throughout the course.
- Interactions should be clearly communicated to students within the syllabus and introductory module.
- Communication about interactions should describe when and how the instructor will initiate an interaction.
You can learn more by requesting a workshop on RSI or reviewing the Reaching Students Intentionally guide to RSI.
The following are free or low-cost learning opportunities on a variety of online teaching & learning topics. If you are a faculty member these are excellent examples of independent projects that can be submitted for flex credit.
Conferences
- Online Teaching Conference - Hosted every June, the conference caters to all online instructors and offers the insights, resources, and connections to take your online education journey to the next level.
- Peralta Online Equity Conference (FREE) - Hosted each Spring the focus is on equity for online learners and deepening our understanding of global equity practices in virtual learning environments. The goals are 1) to increase the visibility of all efforts to improve learning equity in higher education and 2) to bring together institutions that want to share and adopt equitable practices for all online students globally.
Online Faculty Certification Program
The Online Faculty Certification Program covers distance education guidelines, pedagogy for online instruction, and the California Virtual Campus (CVC) Rubric. This program may take up to 20 hours to complete depending on your experience, dedicated time, and effort. The course is delivered by our District friends at Online Learning Pathways. Register Now.
Accessibility Resource Hub
SDCCD offers guidance and technical assistance to help faculty create an accessible learning environment. Accessible websites and information technology positively impacts individuals with disabilities (and those without!) by offering greater opportunity for engagement and participation in pursuit of learning.
Accessibility SharePoint Website
CVC@ONE Courses
- 5-Day Challenge - Organizing Your Canvas Course: Are you new to Canvas and in need of a starting point to begin building an online course? This 5-Day Challenge is an excellent option that will guide you through a "hands-on" process of building a framework in Canvas, and take your first steps toward course design mastery!
- Communication that Matters: Interaction is the often overlooked key to student success in an online learning environment. Come discover how to build interaction into your course in the first 10 minutes, the first 10 hours and the first 10 days. Your students will be hooked!
- 5-Day Challenge - Course Design Short Cuts: Most faculty are aware there’s a direct link between the design of your course and your students’ success. But have you ever thought about how your design methods can impact your success with the course as well? This 5-Day Challenge is designed to introduce five often-overlooked strategies for making your course design faster, easier and more…
- Assessment in Digital Learning: Tired of the same old tests? This 4-week course explores ways to use creative formative and summative assessment techniques to engage your students, to learn more about how your students are learning, and to gather data to continually improve your online assessment techniques.
- Advanced Techniques with Canvas: Are you ready to explore additional features and tools in Canvas? Learn how to present content, support your learning communities, and assess student learning in greater depth! We promise this course will introduce you to a whole new world of possibilities as you continue your journey in becoming a Canvas Super Star!
Bot or Not? Strategies for Faculty
SDCCD Online Learning Pathways presented helpful tips on managing the challenge of identifying fake students in online courses.
- Recording (60-minutes)
- Canvas self-paced module