About
Auburn Online is dedicated to advancing Auburn University’s mission through innovative, learner-centered online, hybrid, and immersive education. Our team of instructional designers, media specialists, and visual artists partners with faculty to create engaging, accessible, and high-quality online and hybrid courses. With a focus on academic innovation, we leverage emerging technologies—including AI and XR—to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Learn more about our process and see examples of our work.
Auburn Online has earned national acclaim for its leadership in instructional design, academic innovation, and immersive learning technologies. Through strategic partnerships and groundbreaking initiatives, Auburn Online continues to redefine excellence in digital education.
Recent honors include:
- 2024 UPCEA Shauna Schullo Best Distance Teaching Practices Award: Recognized for outstanding online teaching strategies that elevate student engagement and learning outcomes.
- 2024 UPCEA Outstanding Noncredit Program Award: Awarded for the “Teaching with Artificial Intelligence” course, which equips educators with practical tools to integrate AI into instruction.
- 2024 ACHE AI Culture Grant: Support Auburn Online’s commitment to forward-thinking educational environments such as the innovative open educational resource project, "A Guide to AI Enhanced Learning."
- The 2021 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report: Highlighted for creating virtual exhibit halls, museums, art galleries, laboratories, and interactive tools like virtual microscopes and slide viewers—demonstrating Auburn’s pioneering role in immersive education.
- 2020 EDUCAUSE Research Publication: Fall Planning for the New Normal: Auburn University was featured for its rapid and effective transition to remote instruction during the pandemic, including the development of virtual labs and simulations
- 2020 Auburn University President’s Outstanding Collaborative Units Award: The “Creed to Succeed” initiative, involving Auburn Online and multiple campus partners, was honored for advancing institutional excellence through collaboration.
These accolades reflect Auburn Online’s dedication to transforming teaching and learning through innovation, accessibility, and collaboration.
Our team actively contributes to the field through presentations at national and international conferences, peer-reviewed publications, and podcasts. Recent scholarship includes work on immersive learning platforms and AI integration in education.
Auburn Online empowers faculty to create and sustain high-quality online and hybrid courses through a comprehensive suite of services. From collaborative course design and development to ongoing data-informed improvement, the team supports instructional excellence at every stage. With scalable support and personalized guidance, Auburn Online ensures that digital learning at Auburn University remains responsive, effective, and aligned with institutional goals.
Auburn Online’s Continuous Improvement (CI) process uses a multi-year, data-informed approach to enhance online education. The project fosters collaboration between instructors and instructional designers, gathering and analyzing student feedback and performance data, and implementing targeted revisions.
The Auburn Online instructional design team offers one-hour consultations to support faculty in enhancing their online and hybrid courses. Limited to five sessions per academic year, these consultations provide expert guidance on course design, instructional strategies, and technology integration.
Held each semester, the Course Launch Hackathon is a hands-on event designed to help faculty prepare their online and hybrid courses for the start of each semester. During this 90-minute collaborative session, instructional designers work side-by-side with faculty to set up Canvas course shells, troubleshoot challenges, and implement best practices in course design. The Hackathon fosters a supportive environment for brainstorming, sharing ideas, and ensuring courses are ready for a successful launch. Faculty leave with practical solutions, enhanced course materials, and increased confidence in delivering engaging online learning experiences.
The Auburn Online Program Ambassador program is designed to elevate the quality and visibility of online and hybrid teaching at Auburn University. Ambassadors serve as champions for innovative instructional practices, connecting with colleges and departments to promote Auburn Online’s services and resources. Through professional development seminars, campus outreach, and the TigerBytes podcast, the program fosters a community of faculty leaders who share evidence-based strategies and support continuous improvement in digital learning. This initiative helps ensure that Auburn’s online programs remain at the forefront of academic excellence and student success.
Auburn Online’s Media Production and Recording Studios offer full-service video and audio support for faculty and staff, featuring dedicated spaces for Learning Glass, “talking head,” and podcast recordings, as well as on-site recording, AI-generated video, and 360º media creation.
Auburn University’s AUX: Immersive Learning Experiences Grant invites faculty to propose innovative projects that integrate augmented and virtual reality into teaching and learning. Sponsored by the Biggio Center and the Office of Information Technology, this internal grant supports multidisciplinary course development, equitable access to immersive technologies, and scalable content creation. Auburn Online leads the initiative, collaborating with faculty across disciplines to design high-impact educational experiences using 360º, VR, and AR tools.
Auburn Online’s Student Success Services provide personalized support for online learners through orientation, learning analytics, and tailored resources that promote engagement, retention, and achievement. Central to this effort is the Student Success Coordinator (SSC), who serves as a consistent point of contact from enrollment to graduation—offering guidance on registration, orientation, academic planning, and resource navigation.
