Raising eLearning Quality
Last year we completed a review to determine if the College would move to a new learning management system (LMS), or stay with our current one. With involvement from faculty and departments we made a decision to move forward with a new LMS and created an implementation plan, but we did not proceed due to the acquisition of ANGEL by Blackboard last spring.
However, in order to maintain our commitment to enhancing eLearning at Chemeketa, Academic Services moved forward to support the eLearning Quality Project (eQ). The eQ project is consistent with our culture of support for professional development and course improvement through activities like the GIFT, Opportunity Center activities, program meetings and other faculty development opportunities. In addition, faculty has voiced concern over the quality of some internet classes; this process addresses those concerns.
Project Update – January 2010!
In fall term, the eLearning Quality (eQ) project was launched!
Quality Matters Training
In November, 111 Chemeketa faculty members participated in the Quality Matters (QM) Improve Your Online Course (IYOC) workshop. The workshop provided a review of the QM process and viewing examples of best practices. As part of the training, each faculty member reviewed their own course following the standards of the QM Rubric. A course improvement plan was then developed to reflect areas of improvement, resources needed and a timeline for making these improvements.
A survey was conducted and the majority (89%) of the participants were satisfied with the workshop. Survey results indicated that faculty found critiquing their courses was rewarding and interacting with each other enjoyable.
In addition to the IYOC workshop, a customized workshop, tailored to Chemeketa, was provided to online Associate Deans, Directors and Coordinators.
Additional QM training opportunities will be offered in the future. Dates will be announced as soon as the training is scheduled. Information about the IYOC workshop can be found at http://online.chemeketa.edu/faculty/training/qm/.
eQ Workgroups
There are three workgroups that have been created to discuss the three eQ strategies and make recommendations on the implementation of each.
Strategy 1
Content Coordination, Communication, Coaching Workgroup
- Christopher MacLean
- Mark Ferguson (PC)
- R. Taylor
- David Hallett
- Kristin Christophersen
- Loraine Schmitt and Kellie Schellenberg – facilitators
Strategy 2
Master Shells Workgroup
- Carlos Lopez (PC)
- Cheryl Davis
- Debbie Hornibrook
- James Finholt (PC)
- Kay Carnegie
- Ron Hulett
- Loraine Schmitt and Kellie Schellenberg – facilitators
Strategy 3
Peer Review Workgroup
- Josie Wood
- Lana Tuss (PC)
- Sandy Frank
- Traci Hodgson
- Johnny Mack
- Nancy Duncan
- Beth Hale and Kellie Schellenberg – facilitators
The eQ project is about:
- Providing opportunities for academic discourse that will lead to growth and improvement of our online offerings;
- Fostering dialogue around eLearning, particularly at the department and program levels;
- Increasing communication between full-time and part-time faculty members;
- Helping programs to develop mechanisms to assure consistency of content across offerings;
- And, encouraging thoughtful, reflective efforts to develop and strengthen online teaching and learning.
It is a strategic two-year academic priority for the College and is a collective academic effort. The project provides resources to departments through sponsorship from Academic Services and the Distance Education department.
The implementation of this project includes a variety of support structures including a project web site (to be released soon), local leadership and communication at the department level, and program meetings. Additional strategies will be used as the plan develops. More information will be provided through your Associate Dean..
Project Overview
Strategy I
Develop and implement a collaborative process that ensures discipline-level content alignment and consistency among all instructors teaching online.
Approach – Each department and program has specific needs and criteria to support the discipline. Faculty and staff at the department and program level will develop and implement strategies to meet its needs in collaboration with the Distance Education Department. The success of these efforts relies upon local leadership and engagement. Resources are available for the project and departments can provide requests for financial support to implement strategies.
The process should include, but is not limited to:
- Strategies to engage full-time and adjunct instructors in discourse regarding the discipline (This might include conference calls, campus meetings, online virtual meetings, list serves, web sites or wiki’s)
- Participation by full-time instructors in the course development process
- Ongoing engagement between full-time and adjunct instructors through coaching, mentoring or observations and other activities.
- Development of content alignment standards for online courses. This can include implementation of a master shell where appropriate. Programs implementing this strategy need to define their concept of a master shell, what course elements are included or optional, what elements can be customized, and how developers will help adjunct faculty implement new shells.
Strategy II
Create shared understanding of best practices in online course design among online instructors
Approach – Departments will work with the Distance Education Department to coordinate fall term workshop offerings for all online instructors who have not previously had this training.
- Involve online instructors an a course design workshop, Improving Your Course Using the Quality Matters Rubric
Strategy III
Provide opportunities for faculty members to engage in academic discourse, encourage thoughtful, reflective efforts, and strengthen online offerings through a peer review process
Approach – Departments will assess and determine which courses to submit for peer reviews and provide departmental leadership to the process. The Distance Education Department will provide oversight and coordination of the process.
- Offer opportunities for up to 85 instructors to participate in a peer course review process
- Offer opportunities for online instructors to serve on a peer review team