Concentrations

Click on the concentration headings below to see descriptions.

• Research & Documentation

  Demonstrate how research helps you bring quality into focus. From formal research that uses a research question and methodology to the deliberate documentation of your quality assurance efforts and their results, proposals in this concentration should highlight how you:

  • Collect data for analysis
  • Chronicle and analyze data
  • Use data to inform your online and blended learning goals

  • Encourage faculty research projects
  • Support the scholarship of teaching and learning
• Certification, Regulation & Accreditation

  Showcase how Quality Matters course- and program-level certifications support your vision for student success as well as your accreditation efforts. Topics to cover include: 

  • Case studies on QM course and program reviews
  • Insight into how QM aids the accreditation process
  • An examination of the roles assessment and continuous improvement play in certification and accreditation

  • Specific efforts related to structuring faculty expectations
  • Policies and procedures that promote student success
• Theory to Practice

  Highlight your efforts related to learning science — what is known about how people learn — and how you are moving that knowledge from theory to practice. Proposals in this concentration should include concrete examples that demonstrate how you are implementing QM/QA in courses and programs. Share your innovative ideas and best practices related to:

  • Equity in teaching and learning
  • Merging modalities for teaching and learning (e.g., online to blended to F2F)
  • Instructional practice 

  • Open educational resources
  • Open pedagogy
  • Busting learning myths
• Foreseeing the Future

  Break out your crystal ball and put the focus on the challenges, trends and opportunities for the future. Share where your quality assurance program is going next. What issues are on the horizon? Potential solutions? Bring your vision for:

  • The leadership process in quality assurance
  • Implementation plans
  • Online student services
  • Gaining institutional support

  • Professional development
  • Marketing
  • The professionalization of instructional designers
  • Collaborations between institutions/programs
• Teaching Strategies that Facilitate Learning

  Dive into the critical topic of teaching and disclose how your institution is affirming quality teaching and design. Share how you — or your institution — are addressing one or more of the following:

  • Instructional practices
  • Design and delivery of online and blended courses
  • Emerging trends
  • Instructional application of student-centered design

  • Evaluation of teaching 
  • Strategies that support academic rigor, from both from the instructor and learner viewpoints
• QA by Design: Tools

  Reveal the tools, software and applications you use to support your focus on quality course design. Proposals in this concentration should discuss:

  • The intentional use of technology tools
  • Course design strategies and tips

  • Tools that help courses meet the QM Standards
  • Policies around tool choices
• Access & Responsible Use

  Help others tackle the tough issues around the proper use of information, including access to information and using it legally and ethically. Share your practical approaches to:

  • Accessibility
  • FERPA

  • Copyright and fair use
  • Digital information literacy
• Celebrating Success

  Shine the spotlight on what’s working. Proposals in this concentration should focus on success stories — how you or your institution are bringing quality into focus — and provide attendees with a path forward. Ideas to share include:

  • The certification process
  • Professional development
  • Faculty/instructor involvement

  • How you are promoting quality assurance at your institution
  • Collaborative adventures

Presentation Formats

Click on the format name to see the definition.

• Conversation that Matters
• Active Learning
• Quality Talk
• Quality Chat
• World Cafe
• Poster