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Suggesting Ideas for Professional Development

Do you have a topic you would love to have covered in an online course or workshop? Do you know of a colleague, friend, or subject matter expert who would be an excellent addition to our professional development instructor team? Submit your ideas to RUSA. We’ll work with the division committee to determine feasibility and make it happen.

Professional Development Format & Delivery

All non-conference professional development opportunities are conducted online. We currently offer a handful of online courses that run anywhere from four to six weeks and offer flexible learning opportunities for your busy schedule. As of 2008, courses are administered using Moodle, an online course management tool.

Beginning in 2009, we are looking to add online seminars and workshops to our course selection. They will be delivered online using a simultaneous telephone and online conference workspace. Ideas for seminar and workshop topics can be submitted to RUSA.

Proposals for Professional Development: Submission & Evaluation

Potential instructors must submit a written proposal of their proposed course curriculum. Read the full submission and evaluation guidelines below.

Once complete, proposals should be submitted to RUSA via e-mail.

The RUSA Professional Development Committee will evaluate all proposals.

Questions regarding RUSA professional development should be directed to the RUSA executive director, whose contact information can be found here.

Proposal Guidelines for Online Courses

RUSA welcomes proposals for online professional development courses. An online course typically covers the same amount of content as a one day, face-to-face instructional session over a four to six week period. Interested instructors should prepare a written proposal that includes the following information:

Course Description: A brief description of the course—300 words or less—including its subject, scope, content, and approach. State what is distinctive and compelling about your particular couse. Intended Market: Who would need this course (use job titles)? How many potential students are out there? Why would they need this course?

Competition: Identify other courses and their providers that address your topic as the focus or major concentration of its curriculum. What are the features of your course that distinguish it from these other offerings and provides a competitive advantage?

Course Outline: An outline of the major topics you will cover in the course, with preference for a complete syllabus if available.

Instructor Credentials: Provide a one-paragraph overview of the credentials of the course instructor(s). If more than one instructor, please provide separate paragraphs for each. Highlight relevant teaching, writing, and editing experience. Include a complete C.V. or resume for each instructor as a part of the proposal package.

Writing Sample: Submit a writing sample that is indicative of the writing style for the proposed course. Ideally, the sample would be part of the written course material.

Instructor’s Online Course Experience: Comment on author’s experience with preparing and teaching online courses, as well as experience with associated software, e.g. WebCT, Moodle.

Content Development Schedule: Provide an outline of dates for completion of course modules or sections, including a final date of completion for all course material.