Strengthen Your Online Instruction Skillset
Point Park's Online Instruction Endorsement is a fully online, 12-credit, cohort model, accelerated program for professional educators who work and teach in K-12 public, private, charter and basic education learning environments and wish to expand their knowledge and competencies relevant to teaching and learning in an online environment.
Learn how to:
- Effectively use hardware and software
- Integrate technology into lessons
- Facilitate learner-centered activities
Courses & Topics
Courses are offered in eight-week sessions to accommodate those who are working full-time, providing a pathway to completing the requirements in two semesters. Scholarly research, interactive learning and inclusive participation are required of all students.
Courses in this 12-credit program include:
- Learning Technologies for Educators
- Instructional Methods for Online Teaching and Learning
- Online Teaching: Design and Delivery
- Field work in K-12 schools in learning, design, and technology
Outstanding, Experienced Faculty
Point Park's education faculty are recognized experts in their fields, bringing valuable real-world experience to online learning. Learn more about the educators leading this program below.
Dr. Revilla Beltrán is a professor of education and one of the early adopters of online teaching in the 1990s. She has experience in the development, design, evaluation and delivery of traditional, blended and online courses and extensive consulting experience at all education levels. Dr. Revilla Beltrán is recognized as a successful leader, trainer, licensed counselor and board-certified coach. Her passion for student success and customized learning are hallmarks of her teaching practice.
During her career, Dr. Revilla Beltrán has received numerous awards and recognitions. In 2019, she received the prestigious Faculty Distinguished Teaching Award. Her areas of expertise include online learning, culturally responsive teaching, adult education and training. Dr. Revilla Beltrán has received over $2.6 million dollars in grants for special projects and initiatives. Her research led to the development of the in learning, design and technology program. Read more about her experience and background on her faculty bio page.
Learn more about the new M.Ed. in learning, design and technology from Dr. Revilla Beltrán in this blog post.
Dr. Chambers is an associate professor of education. Before beginning her doctoral program at the University of Pittsburgh, she was an elementary teacher in the Washington, D.C. area. At Point Park, Dr. Chambers teaches courses at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral level. Dr. Chambers has developed new M.Ed. programs in reading specialist certification, as well as athletic coaching and administration. She has served as a chair of dissertations in the doctoral program, focusing on research on technology integration in K-12 settings.
Dr. Chambers currently serves as a board member of Matt’s Makerspace, Inc. In 2021, Dr. Chambers presented her work on using poetry in makerspace classrooms at the UKLA International Conference in Oxford, England. Read more about her experience and background on her faculty bio page.
Dr. Frey is a recognized leader in the design, development, evaluation and teaching of online programs. She is a prolific author of numerous publications in the field of online learning and digital accessibility. She has presented at national and international conferences. Her extensive experience as a teacher, designer, trainer, consultant and practitioner in online learning spans 30 years. As a consultant, Dr. Frey has served professional organizations, community colleges, universities and the military in the application of best practices for online teaching and learning. Dr. Frey was a consultant in the development of the learning, design and technology program.
Visit the links below to read some of Frey's publications related to online learning and technology.
- "Course Design for Digital Accessibility: Best Practices and Tools," Quality Matters, 2021.
- "Administrative Supports for Digital Accessibility: Policies and Processes," Quality Matters, 2020.
- "A Model for Developing Instructional Design Professionals for Higher Education Through Apprenticeship: Blending Theory and Practice," Journal of Applied Instructional Design, 2020.
Dr. Kearns specializes in academic transformations at the course and program levels, pedagogical innovation and the advancement of knowledge in the fields of higher education teaching, online and blended learning and large-scale course redesign. She is recognized for her expertise in program development and the administration of online education. Her experience spans all aspects of the planning, development, delivery and assessment of online programs and courses. She has published and presented on topics such as assessment in online learning, faculty development for online teaching and faculty professional learning. Dr. Kearns was a consultant in the development of the learning, design and technology program.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements for the Online Instruction Endorsement program include:
- Successfully completing 4 required courses in the program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and no grade in any course lower than a C.
- Completing a capstone field experience course that appropriately synthesizes and applies program instruction in a real world context. Candidates will work with program advisors to secure a K-12 school partner for this experience. The experience can be tailored and differentiated to match the candidates’ professional goals related to their desired role(s) within a K-12 system. The field experience will contain adequate rigor that both demonstrates practical application of coursework as well as provide new opportunities for professional growth.