The Adjunct Faculty Training Institute (AFTI) provides a comprehensive series of professional development courses for new, current, and aspiring adjunct faculty at colleges and universities nationwide. Beginning and advanced-level courses are designed to offer best-practice teaching strategies, increase student achievement, reduce student withdrawal rates, and support overall student success. These online courses are structured to deliver instruction effectively and create a cohort environment where instructors can share best practices.
AFTI Courses
For those new to adjunct teaching or those interested in becoming an adjunct instructor, this fully online program provides basic and advanced techniques for professional development in college-level instruction. Instruction objectives include syllabus preparation, classroom management, and formative and summative assessments.
- Syllabus preparation and lesson planning
- Classroom management strategies
- Student engagement and assessment methods
There will be three synchronous online meeting times during the 8-week period. During the final week of class, participants will present a mini-lesson plan. The online curriculum is completed on your own schedule each week. A textbook is required by the first day of class: Teaching at Its Best: A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors, 5th edition, by Linda Nilson. ISBN: 978-1119860228.
Mondays, Feb. 2 to March 23
BSFPD-0200-HYB08, $299
Hybrid
This advanced teaching course is designed to support faculty in transforming students from passive listeners to active learners while improving learning outcomes and deepening understanding. You will leave the session with strategies and techniques that can be used in your face-to-face, hybrid, and online courses. This is an advanced course designed for current adjunct faculty at any institution. This course has four synchronous online meeting times to be determined during the first week of class. A textbook is required by the first day of class: Making Learner-Centered Teaching Work: Practical Strategies for Implementation by Phyllis Blumberg (ISBN-13: 978-1620368954).
Mondays, Feb. 9 to March 16
BSFPD-0300-NET01, $169
Online (Self-paced)
This course focuses on student learning as the central goal of quality instruction. Instructors will learn strategies to measure the degree to which students are meeting course objectives. Colleges and universities are being called upon to measure learning outcomes and utilize data for continuous improvement as a requirement for accreditation. You will learn to align your instructional activities to the learning objectives of your program. You will learn and implement multiple direct and indirect assessment methods. You will examine elements of an effective assessment plan as well as strategies for teaching and learning through a lens of core questions: "What will students be able to know or do?" and "How will I know that they can do it?" This course has 2 to 4 synchronous online meeting times.
Mondays, Feb 9 to March 16
BSFPD-0320-NET01, $169
Online (Self-paced)
This module explores diversity and social justice, specifically in the context of
the college environment. Concepts covered include race/ethnicity, gender, class, and
individual and group experiences. You will discuss equity in education, access and
inclusion, and diversity in the classroom and beyond. You will explore strategies
for mitigating the problems faced by marginalized groups, particularly in regards
to educational settings. This course has 2 to 4 synchronous online meeting times.
Textbook is required by first day of class: Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice
by Maurianne Adams
SBN-13: 978-1138023345
Mondays, Feb 9 to March 16
BSFPD-0310-NET01, $169
Online (Self-paced)
Register Today
Sign up easily through Instant Enrollment. Be sure to provide a personal email address when registering and check your spam or junk folders regularly so you don’t miss course updates.- To participate in online or hybrid classes, you’ll need access to a computer, tablet (such as an iPad), or similar device with a camera and microphone. Classes are delivered via Zoom and/or the Blackboard learning platform.
- To ensure a smooth start, registration for online courses may close up to 48 business hours before the course begins.
I took Learner-Centered Teaching in the spring, and it reinvigorated my history courses. The course materials challenged my thinking at every turn, and the activities and live lessons pushed me to keep my students at the center of my approach. After years of teaching, this course is exactly what I needed to ensure that I am creating an engaging and flexible learning environment for every student I teach.
Harley Jones, History Adjunct faculty
Instructor Bio
Dr. Sonia Watson is the Assistant Dean for Adjunct Faculty Support at College of DuPage. She received her Doctorate in Organization Development with an emphasis in Higher Education Leadership from Benedictine University. She also has a Master’s Degree in Leadership Studies and a BA from North Central College. As an educator for more than twenty years, Sonia has extensive experience as a training and development leader whose accomplishments demonstrate strategic leadership, efficient management, and effective decision-making. She also understands how to motivate, lead, develop meaningful relationships, and create synergistic environments. Sonia has a passion for helping students reach their academic, professional, and personal goals. She is also committed to fostering an environment that supports teaching and learning at the college. She leads efforts to ensure College of DuPage students and faculty members’ success, guiding the institution’s mission of creating a lifelong learning environment for its diverse community. Sonia has considerable experience presenting at conferences across the nation and internationally.
Learn more about adjunct faculty at COD.
National Council for Continuing Education and Training
The Adjunct Faculty Training Institute recently became an NCCET certified program. NCCET is the National Council for Continuing Education and Training, a nonprofit organization that provides leadership for professionals in continuing professional education, community services programming, workforce and economic development and lifelong learning. The application requirements were submissions of course syllabi, materials quality, marketing methods, educational value, accessibility, testing practices and professional references. The NCCET curriculum committee reviewed our application materials and awarded us Program Certification of the Adjunct Faculty Training Institute.
