Open Learning

The resources below assist the Open Learning Administrator, instructor, and others in setting-up the offering. It is worth reviewing these resources for guidance as well as to refresh and strengthen your understanding of the Open Learning Platform.

Review Administrator Training Course

The Open Learning Administrator Training Course offers modules that serve the technical needs of administrators. Whereas mandatory for the Open Learning administrator, the training is also a useful resource for anyone, including instructors.

Technical Training Resources

• Canvas Instructor Guide: Canvas/Instructure-designed resource specifically for instructors.
• Open Learning Catalog Guide: An overall resource for navigating the Open Learning platform.

Course Design Resources

• Creating a Course via ELMS-Canvas: Canvas/Instructure-designed training on how to create a course. 
• ELMS-Canvas Faculty Tutorial: DIT-designed self-paced tutorial for UMD faculty members.
• (Re) Design Your ELMS Course-Basics: DIT-designed training that provides basic ELMS design assistance. 
• Teaching and Learning Transformation Center (TLTC): Find useful learning tools, information about available learning spaces, and other great services.

The University’s Web Accessibility Policy sets minimum standards for the accessibility of all UMD Web-based information used to conduct university business and academic activities to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal regulations. Video captioning is mandated primarily for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers; however, program coordinators and course developers must plan and budget captioning for all prerecorded, live, and audio-described videos. The unit sponsoring the course is responsible for the cost of accessibility accommodations.

The Division of Information Technology (DIT) has developed a robust website that provides digital accessibility services, tools, and resources to ensure that UMD services and courses are accessible and usable by all users. For digital accessibility guidance and documentation, training and consultation, accessibility and usability testing and remediation tools, and more, see Digital Accessibility. Questions? Contact the DIT Digital Accessibility Office at itaccessibility@umd.edu or 301.405.3364.

To set-up a free Open Learning Certificate of Completion that students print out upon successful completion of course requirements, see:

• Add a Certificate of Completion
• How do I add a certificate of completion for a Catalog course?

The UMD Continuing Education Certificate is issued in digital format.

Within 10 business days after course conclusion, complete and submit the UMD CEU Certificate Issuance Request. Extended Studies uses this form to issue the individual student certificate.

• Complete and upload the UMD CEU Certificate Payment and Participant List.
• EXST reviews and submits the payment information for processing. The campus unit receives a copy for their records.
• Campus units receive the certificate proof(s) for approval. 
• Once approved, campus units receive the digital certificate(s) for distribution. 

• To move or copy a previous or existing term-based course or Canvas Organization space in ELMS-Canvas to a non-credit iteration for Open Learning, contact Extended Studies: openlearning@umd.edu. 
• The request should include the URL(s) of the ELMS-Canvas course(s) to be moved or copied to the Open Learning ELMS-Canvas subaccount.

• For issues related to offering Open Learning courses, contact Extended Studies: openlearning@umd.edu.
• For questions concerning course design within ELMS-Canvas, Administrator Access, or the Technology Fee, contact the Division of Information Technology: itsupport@umd.edu.
• For technical support for an Open Learning course, contact Canvas Technical Support: 877-399-4090 or live chat.