By The Virtual Foundations Team

IOA is proud to announce we are expanding our popular Foundations of Organizational Ombuds Practice course to a virtual platform. We will be launching our first course in October 2020!

In late May, a small team of IOA volunteers—which includes experienced Foundations instructors and subject matter experts— began working with Springboard International, a consulting firm with e-learning expertise. The group began modifying and updating the Foundations format for success in an online environment. This work is currently ongoing and involves reviewing and updating existing content, identifying new modes for instruction, and developing asynchronous learning elements such as videos and reflection prompts. 

What will Virtual Foundations Look Like?

Like the in-person format, a virtual Foundations course will be taught by a team of three experienced ombuds. The course will take place over a 5-day period (generally Monday through Friday). Online group-learning (synchronous) will take place via Zoom for roughly 3-hours each day for one week, Monday through Friday, plus an additional 3.5-hour session on Wednesday. To ensure a meaningful and connected experience, each virtual course offering will be limited to 24 participants. Virtual Foundations will also leverage IOA’s new Online Learning Center to keep learners engaged and organized before, during, and after their course. 

Why Is IOA Taking Foundations Virtual?

While the spread of COVID has prevented many of our in-person trainings, it has also provided IOA with an opportunity to focus on adapting this course and others to a virtual platform. We excited that we will now be able to provide new opportunities to serve our ever-expanding ombuds community with more frequency and, of course, Foundations can now be accessed by ombuds around the world without the barriers inherent in travel. 

We hope the launch of virtual Foundations courses will satisfy the needs of our waitlist of eager participants from recently canceled in-person events as well as future registrants in a timely fashion. 

When Can I Attend a Virtual Foundations Course? 

Virtual Foundations will first be offered from 5–9 October 2020. Additional Virtual Foundations offerings will be scheduled monthly through March 2021; time zones will vary as instructor availability allows. Please visit our Foundations Courses page for more information and to register.

Virtual Foundations dates and times will be released soon, and registration will be prioritized for those that were registered for a canceled course in 2020. Thank you for your patience.

Special Thanks to the Virtual Foundations Team:

• Melissa Brodrick
• Mary Conger
• Angela Dash
• Donna Louden