Learn about this powerhouse teaching office at The University of Alabama.
1. OTIDE is an office, not a college.
College of Continuing Studies was reimagined as the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education in 2022 to serve as an arm of Academic Affairs. OTIDE helps academic divisions innovate and advance their academic offerings. Through campus, industry and statewide partnerships, OTIDE serves learners from sixth grade through their golden years.
2. OTIDE helps educate Alabama middle and high schoolers.
OTIDE’s ACCESS Virtual Learning delivers online middle and high school curriculum for the state of Alabama. ACCESS bridges the gap for Alabama students seeking credit recovery or those enrolled in schools lacking certified teachers. Students also have access to expanded electives through high-quality asynchronous online courses in subjects ranging from career readiness to visual arts, from computer applications to Mandarin Chinese.
3. OTIDE’s UA Teaching Academy launched in 2023.
Advancing the art of teaching across all modalities and disciplines, whether in-person or distance, the UA Teaching Academy provides in-person workshops, consultation, classroom observations and an online repository of teaching tools and resources for faculty, instructors, and graduate teaching assistants. The new AI teaching network helps ensure that UA teaching keeps pace with rapid advances in generative AI.
4. OTIDE’s Early College gives high schoolers a leg up.
Through Early College, high school students can take courses for college credit through dual credit and dual enrollment courses. The LEAP summer program gives rising high school freshmen a taste of college life. And did you know that as a UA faculty or staff member, your UA tuition benefit can be applied to your child’s Early College courses?
5. You don’t have to be retired to participate in OTIDE’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute serves learners who are typically referred to as “50 and better” and want to enjoy learning without homework or tests. Averaging over 1,000 members a year in chapters located in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Gadsden, OLLI offers courses ranging from birdwatching to the history of UA to gardening.