PTC Instructors Receive National Certification

Three Piedmont Technical College instructors have earned the Certified Online Instructor (COI) designation. Samantha Hauptman, Suzy Murray and Tamatha Sells have completed the certification program offered by the Learning Resources Network (LERN) which provides professional development and recognition for instructors of online courses.

“I thought that, with half of the classes I teach being online, it would provide new ideas and ways to improve my online courses,” said Murray, PTC business instructor.

“The college developed an online quality review committee that reviews online courses for quality,” said Sells, PTC sociology instructor. “As committee chair, I thought it would be beneficial for members of the committee to get certified as instructors so that when we review the courses, it adds more credibility.”

To obtain the COI designation, the instructors completed a fairly rigorous process. Requirements included a critique of their online courses, a knowledge exam, evaluation by online students participating in courses that they instruct and completion of three online courses for teaching online, designing online instruction, and building learning communities in cyberspace.

“We are pleased to recognize these instructors’ expertise and experience in this growing area of teaching,” noted William A. Draves, president of the Learning Resources Network (LERN), the international education association awarding the COI designation. The Certified Online Instructor (COI) designation was developed by a committee of outstanding online faculty from universities and colleges in four countries in response to the need for recognition of expertise in this important area of higher education instruction. The faculty for the COI designation includes experts and authors in the field of online teaching.

“I do teach online, but I’ve never taken an online class,” said Hauptman, PTC criminal justice instructor. “I thought it would be nice to see the other side as well.”

“I think the best thing about the courses was getting into the discussion boards and talking with other instructors across the country and finding out what they’re doing to improve their courses,” said Sells.

Photo Caption: Three Piedmont Technical College instructors have earned the Certified Online Instructor (COI) designation. Pictured are, from left, Samantha Hauptman, criminal justice instructor; Tamatha Sells, sociology instructor; and Suzy Murray, business instructor.