Conference Presentations

Psychology research has shown that people often think of themselves as "above average." This presentation highlights data collected from faculty at 34 institutions suggesting this "above-average effect" applies to how people rate their course design skills. In a comparison between self-rated design skills and course review outcomes, the survey data find over-confidence in course design abilities. This presentation includes recommendations for how QM training can help instructors better self-assess their own abilities to create a well-designed course.

How did a small, rural, multi-campus community college become one of the top 2 percent of all QM institutions? Come on an interactive journey to discover ideas to achieve QM success at your campus. You'll learn how leadership, internal mentors, faculty workshops, monetary incentives, and a wall of fame motivate faculty to pursue QM Certification. There will be several strategies for how you, too, can get a piece of the pie. Be sure to bring your wireless device to this presentation.

Jill Holmes, Sheryl Barton, and Kim Hansen

The session presents a new Quality Assurance Taxonomy devised via a Delphi study with a panel comprising shareholders in online higher education at the student, faculty, and administrative levels.  The taxonomy can be used to facilitate both internal and external evaluations and inform quality standards, documents, practices, processes, and measurements.  It introduces a concept no t previously found in literature--the increased criticality of QA dimensions (such as student support and faculty support) that results from the online modality.

Although visual representations have been around since cave paintings, visuals created with new technologies are changing the definition of what it means to be literate. Visual literacy is not just an "add-on," because incorporating visuals into learning practices helps the brain create meaning. Learn how to integrate visuals to capture the interest of today's learners and invoke emotions of curiosity, excitement, and enthusiasm. Explore digital tools and resources to support and enhance visual literacy in today's face-to-face, blended, or online classrooms.

Community promotes a sense of belonging, which provides motivation and encouragement for successful course completion.

Presenters will demonstrate techniques such as reciprocal teaching and formative assessments and the use of online applications like community maps, wikis, Brainshark, and vokis for building community and social presence in blended and online learning.

Extensive educational data are available for examination through learning analytics. The paper on which this presentation is based applies learning analytics in the assessment of distance education, exploring opportunities for change at individual and programmatic levels. Analysis targets learner engagement, group processes, course tools, and online contexts, such as those described by Quality Matters Standards.

Gamification is popular in higher ed. What it boils down to is motivating students to keep trying, reach new levels of accomplishment, and be successful. (All of these are things we do naturally when playing games because we love challenges, regardless of the number of attempts it takes to attain mastery.) One way to foster achievement is to offer rewards for each level of skill attained or accomplishment completed.

Presentation Site: https://sites.google.com/site/captioning101/

Imagine watching a video and not hearing the audio that accompanies it. What would you miss? For learners who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, that answer may be A LOT! Join us for this session to learn why captioning is important, and also watch a demonstration of how to actually caption a video using YouTube.

At many institutions, closed captioning in online courses is provided on an as-needed basis in response to an accommodation request. Given recent litigation, growing student diversity in higher education, and the potential benefits to all learners when instructors employ universal design methods, closed captioning should, in our estimation, be a standard feature in online courses.

Full

Competency-based education (CBE) is getting a lot of attention. Defined by personalized learning and "authentic" assessment, advocates position CBE as a powerful toolkit to address some of higher education's biggest challenges- namely, high tuition, low completion and vague/uneven student outcomes. It could be argued that these challenges are relevant for "traditional" online learning, too. Amid the hype, what is truly distinctive about the new generation of CBE programs, and is CBE really a mainstream solution or a more specialized one?

Looking for ideas to streamline communication, increase productivity and save time? Come and take a peek inside this course review manager’s “toolbox” to see what tips, tools and strategies are used to organize and manage data, deadlines, and reviewers during each busy review cycle. By using templates, free web tools, and automation, it is possible to streamline data management tasks and processes. Not just for course review managers, this session will be of interest to anyone looking for ideas, tools and techniques that will save time and increase productivity.

Key class content is placed in modules. Is this information organized in a stimulating manner, just randomly offered, or, as some say, "thrown against the wall"? This session looks at a course that incorporates key elements of the Quality Matters Rubric by using a variety of strategies to create an organized module that is informative, engaging, interactive, and something students will want to visit.

As a new kid on the block, our Canadian College has adapted QM for its approach to continuous improvement of online and hybrid (blended) courses. Having learned from our successes and challenges, we will share key takeaways for promoting and creating buy-in for the initiative, and tailoring the measurement of rubric standards to meet the needs of your institution.

Are you daring to provide dual-credit courses?  Designing a dual-credit course doesn't have to be daunting.  Learn the design elements that are shared between both higher education and K-12 courses, and explore what needs to be included to facilitate student success at both levels.  Learn what QM recommends for course reviews, both formal and informal, and take a look at what some school districts are doing to make it happen.  Think your course is ready?  Bring it if you dare!

What do students perceive as essential strategies for success in blended classes?

This session shares the results of a two-year research project soliciting student data on strategies for success in blended ESL college classes.

The data resulted in instructional strategies for metacognition and collaboration to facilitate culturally responsive e-learning using QM Standards.

Timeline Review and Program Support

Purpose of the Cohort Program -
To provide structure, support and, resources for faculty engagement with Quality Matters Course Review from the early stages of design through the process of certification.

Digital badges can support learning that happens beyond traditional classrooms and can be used to represent achievements, communicate success, and set goals. Digital badges are currently being offered to students in a Computer Literacy online course as one method for making evident a student's progress through the learning activities associated with the course. Participants will learn how to use badges to help student engagement in an online course. Earn a Credly badge (maybe your first) for attending this session!