Opportunities for Professional Development in Online Education

MarylandOnline’s Virtual Professional Development Series provides workshops and sessions on topics of interest to our members and online educators. This includes instructional design, use of new technology, accessibility, inclusive practices, and other topics directly related to the teaching and learning process. To download our Spring schedule please select: MOL_Spring 2026 Webinars

To view our list of upcoming spring and summer webinars, click on Spring and Summer Webinars 2021.

To view past webinars, go to the MarylandOnline YouTube Channel.

MarylandOnline also sponsors the MarylandOnline Leadership Institute (MOLLI), a comprehensive program designed to expand and nurture a strong network of emerging leaders in online education. MOLLI webinars and workshops cover a variety of topics related to leadership in online learning.

Beneath the list of MOL Fall webinars, you will find links to other professional resources relevant to online educators.

Spring 2026 Webinar Listings

February

Academic Focus: Small Changes, Big Impact - How Minor Tweaks in Your Classes Can Lead to Improvements in Student Engagement and Outcomes in the Community College Classroom and Beyond

Tuesday, February 10, 2026
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m

Have you ever wished there was a magic potion that would make you a perfect educator? Some incredible resource filled with syllabus advice, in-class exercises, and conversation starters that immediately make you a better educator and engage your students to increase their success?
In this PD session, we will focus on how making small changes in your teaching can have big effects on student behavior and learning in the community college classroom and beyond.

Rachael Bateman (Associate Professor and Coordinator of Associate of Science in Environmental Studies Degree Program, College of Southern Maryland)
Moderator: Julie Wenz (Senior Instructional Designer – Quality Assurance Coordinator, Community College of Baltimore County)

To REGISTER: Go to Small Changes, Big Impact - How Minor Tweaks in your Classes Can Lead to Improvements in Student Engagement and Outcomes in the Community College Classroom and Beyond

 

Accessibility Spotlight: WCAG, Title II, and April 2026 – The Race Is On

Thursday, February 12, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m

The DOJ has spoken; higher ed has two years to meet WCAG 2.1 standards. This quick webinar will highlight the main takeaways from the DOJ ruling and ask big questions about how institutions will meet the deadline.

Deborah Dorsey (Associate Professor of Health, Harford Community College)

To REGISTER: Go to WCAG, Title II, and April 2026 - The Race Is On

 

Accessibility Spotlight: Finding the Right Websites

Thursday, February 26, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m

New ADA Guidelines make clear that accessibility compliance is not just about the content that lives in our LMS. Linked third-party content still must meet WCAG standards. This webinar demonstrates free tools that can help you determine whether or not that website you love is one you should keep.

Deborah Dorsey (Associate Professor of Health, Harford Community College)

To REGISTER: Finding the Right Websites

 

Academic Focus: AI, Automation, and Authority: Positioning Instructional Design as Learning Strategy

Friday, February 27, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m

This presentation explores how AI and automation are transforming work, introducing a framework where creating margin, strategic learning, and sharing knowledge combine to build authority and lasting impact. It demonstrates that leadership in the AI era isn’t about doing more—it’s about creating space to think strategically, learning what compounds, and making your work visible so others can build on it.

Patrick Dempsey (Founder and co-CEO of PendAI, providing Cultural Diagnostics for Human+AI Work)
Moderator: Lisa Starkey (Assistant Director, Center for Professional Learning, Adjunct Faculty, Computer Technology & Applications, Anne Arundel Community College)

To REGISTER: Go to AI, Automation, and Authority: Positioning Instructional Design as Learning Strategy

March

Academic Focus: Micro-credentials, Macro-impact: Supporting Faculty with Credential Innovation

Monday, March 2, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m

This webinar is packed with actionable strategies for involving faculty in the exciting world of micro-credential development! In this presentation, you’ll discover practical examples and resources that you can immediately apply to support your own faculty or curriculum developers. Our experts will guide you through proven methods for engaging faculty while setting up clear support structures, guidelines, and quality measures to ensure success. Whether you’re just starting or looking to enhance your program, this session will equip you with the tools and insights needed to elevate your micro-credentialing initiatives to the next level!

Dr. Andrea Fortin (Assistant Professor & Faculty Coordinator of Micro-credentials, Florida Golf Coast University)
Kristen Vanselow (AVP of Innovative Education and Partnerships, Florida Golf Coast University)

To REGISTER: Go to Micro-credentials, Macro-impact: Supporting Faculty with Credential Innovation

 

How To: The KXR Framework: Instructional Design for Transformative and Accessible Extended Reality Learning

Wednesday, March 5, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m

The rapid adoption of Extended Reality (XR) technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), in education has underscored the need for a structured approach to their effective integration. This presentation introduces a framework that adapts established instructional design models, including ADDIE, Backwards Design, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), to XR learning environments. The framework can be used by educators, instructional designers, and technologists to guide the design and implementation of XR-based learning activities and assignments. By integrating adult learning theories, best practices, and practical advice, this framework provides research-supported guidance together with publicly available examples that illustrate the potential of using these technologies for educational purposes.

Steven Sturman (Instructional Designer, University of Buffalo)
Roberta (Robin) Sullivan (Emerging Technologies Librarian (Emeritus), University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Director, SUNY Exploring Emerging Technologies for Lifelong Learning and Success (#EmTech)

To REGISTER: Go to The KXR Framework: Instructional Design for Transformative and Accessible Extended Reality Learning

 

Accessibility Spotlight: Table Accessibility – Do’s and Don’ts

Thursday, March 12, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m

It’s an unfortunate truth – fancy tables are often not accessible. This webinar covers why that’s so, the right way to use tables, how to make them accessible, and when to walk away.

Deborah Dorsey (Associate Professor of Health, Harford Community College)

To REGISTER: Go to Table Accessibility – Do’s and Don’ts

 

Accessibility Spotlight: To PDF or Not To PDF – Here Is the Answer

Thursday, March 26, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m

This webinar covers how to ensure your self-authored PDF meets standards and how to decide whether you should or should not use the one you found on the internet.

Deborah Dorsey (Associate Professor of Health, Harford Community College)

To REGISTER: Go to To PDF or Not to PDF - Here is the Answer

 

April

Accessibility Spotlight: Answering Your Questions

Thursday, April 9 2026
11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m

This webinar is our final webinar in the Assessibility spotlight series and will answer any questions from any of the webinars from the series.

Deborah Dorsey (Associate Professor of Health, Harford Community College)

To REGISTER: Go to Answering Your Questions

More listings to be added - Check back often for updates.

Additional Resources for Online Professionals