MTSU Online reimagined its Online Faculty Mentoring (OFM) program to create a cross-campus community that champions online teaching and learning. Focused on topics relating to online teaching and learning, participation is open to adjunct, full-time temporary (FTT), tenure-track, and/or tenured MTSU faculty regardless of online experience.  Groups will be facilitated by experienced online instructors.

Questions should be directed to MTSU Online at online@mtsu.edu.

Participants

To participate in this learning community, sparticipants are asked to sign up to indicate their interests.  Space is limited; participants will be notified after the sign-up deadline has closed.

As a participant of the Online Faculty Mentoring (OFM) Community, we expect you to:

• Attend 3 Community Conversations (group meetings) per semester, for a total of 6 meetings per academic year (fall and spring).  Group meetings will be held online and supported using Microsoft Teams.
  [Instructions for accessing the OFM group space via Microsoft Teams]
• Share your ideas, insights, success, and challenges with teaching
• Participate in the co-creation of an authentic and trusting environment, supporting fellow members through collaboration, active listening, and meaningful exchanges
• Transform learning / exploration from discussion / activities into practice
• Provide feedback to MTSU Online and mentors on your experiences with the community

As a result of participation, you will receive

• Benefits of professional development – increased knowledge, skills, and practices as well as growing your peer network
• Recognition of participation (Letter, Certificate, Electronic Badge, or the like)
• Modest compensation

Mentors

We value the experiences and insights experienced online faculty have to share with our community.  We invite individuals who have previously developed courses with MTSU Online to serve as mentors prior to the start of the fall semester.

As a mentor, we expect you to:

• Participate in an OFM Orientation session
• Work with assigned mentoring partner and MTSU Online liaison (Instructional Designer or Director) to identify topics relating to online teaching and learning suitable for professional development activities
• With mentoring partner, lead Community Conversations (group discussions and/or activities) three times per semester (a total of 6 sessions over the academic year) for registered community participants
• Facilitate the establishment and nurturing of an online teaching and learning community at MTSU by supporting peers through dialogue, active listening, and mentoring
• Take attendance and gather feedback (using MTSU Online-provided instrument) from participants at each meeting
• Submit to MTSU Online an annual summary of group discussion / activities

Serving as a mentor, you will receive

• Benefits of professional development – increased knowledge, skills, and practices as well as growing your peer network
• Recognition of participation (Letter, Certificate, Electronic Badge, or the like)
• Compensation in the form of an annual stipend