Program Overview

Online Instructor Certification

The Online Instructor Certification (OIC) is a fully online four-week certification that prepares USF Tampa, St. Pete, and Sarasota-Manatee instructors to teach online. The course includes strategies for planning instructor presence, active learning approaches for online presentations, assessment/feedback planning, and more.

OIC Boot Camp (One Week Version)

The OIC Boot Camp is an accelerated, live version of the OIC. In this format, attendees will participate in a comprehensive one-day training remotely facilitated through Microsoft Teams. Following this session, participants will have a week to complete all required assignments, which include the development of online teaching plans for each topic area and group-based peer interaction.

Requirements for OIC Boot Camp

• Attendance of the one-day training for the full duration of the session (excluding lunch and breaks)
• Completion of all required assignments within the one-week timeframe
• Evidence of participation within all group activities

Who is Required to Take the OIC?

The OIC is required for those who are listed as the instructor of record for fully online courses (AD/PD) at USF. Per the FLBOG 2025 Strategic Plan for Online Instruction, instructors teaching fully online courses (AD/PD) are required to complete a professional development activity for online teaching. The designated professional development platform for USF Tampa, St. Pete, and Sarasota-Manatee online faculty is the OIC.

Recertification

Absolutely, we welcome anyone who was previously OIC certified and wishes to refresh their skills with a recertification. First priority in the OIC will be given to those who are still pending certification; however, space will be reserved in each OIC cohort for those wishing to recertify. Recertification enrollment will be granted based on cohort capacity and on a “first come first serve” basis. If space is not available, you will receive notification and you can register for a future cohort.

Required Attendance and Time Commitment

• In our traditional (four-week) OIC, participants will be required to attend live lectures or meet at a specific time. However, online office hours will be available. The course is delivered over a four-week period, and participants typically spend one to three hours per week reviewing presentations, engaging with peers, and completing assignments. To ensure the best possible experience, each module will be rolled out weekly.
• In the Boot Camp OIC, participants will be required to attend a one-day Teams session followed by one week in Canvas where participants will typically spend one to three hours reviewing presentations, engaging with peers, and completing assignments.

Certification Requirements

Certification requires the completion of all assignments and participation within peer-review discussions. The OIC fosters a collaborative approach where you will connect with peer faculty through rich discussions.

Accommodating New Instructors

Absolutely! The OIC has been designed to accommodate everyone regardless of technical background or experience teaching online. We recognize the challenge of learning anything new (especially technology), and the OIC provides ample tutorials and facilitator support to ensure that you can complete the required assignments and master the skills.

Previous Experience Teaching Online

Yes. The OIC is required for anyone teaching a fully online course (instructor of record) at USF, and previous experience teaching online or certifications from other institutions are not a substitute. To meet the goals set in the FLBOG 2025 Strategic Plan for Online Instruction, instructors teaching fully online courses (AD/PD) are required to complete a professional development activity for online teaching. The designated professional development platform for USF Tampa, St. Pete, and Sarasota-Manatee online faculty is the OIC.

Access to OIC Presentations and Resources

If you are not the instructor of record of an online course but would like access to the OIC, we offer the OIC Open. The OIC Open is a replica of the certification-based OIC, but it is self-paced and does not count toward certification. You can use this as an opportunity to preview the OIC and/or use it as a training resource to build your skills as an online instructor.