Conference Presentations

As more institutions are offering accelerated programs, it is essential that research assess the effectiveness of course design to ensure learners master the course and module learning outcomes. Wlodkowski and Ginsberg (2010) reported that many disciplines have overloaded the content that is required for learning in a course by designing instruction focused on extensive facts and research that only marginally support the learning outcomes.

Accelerated courses and programs are becoming more common within higher education institutions. However, compressing the amount of time over which these courses and programs take place can result in less time for students to reflect, which, in turn, can result in poor learning outcomes. This session will present the findings of a research study that investigated the instructional design strategies used to promote deep learning and how instructional designers decide which deep learning strategies to use in accelerated online courses and programs.

Rethink how you use the Discussion Tool and discover quality student-centered discussion designs, rubrics, and emerging trends with multimedia tools that can be tailored to your class. (Standard 5.2 and 6.1)

Participants will analyze one of their own courses and will use materials to examine the situational factors and pedagogical challenges. They will have share these in discussions to learn from one another. They will develop course outcomes and/or competencies or modify existing ones to complete a table which will align outcomes with assessments and learning activities. A crosswalk and discussion of multiple assessments and activities will be shared to help participants further develop their courses for significant learning.

This session examines traditional and future design models of lifelong learning which can include greater access, convenience, immediacy, and credit for prior knowledge. How will faculty, designers, and institutions prepare to adapt to the changes that are centered more on learners? Join us for the analysis of microlearning, badges, stackable credentials and ways to use artificial intelligence (AI) to demonstrate mastery of outcomes where lifelong learning is delivered in a more seamless and immediate manner.

Are you looking to make your online lessons more engaging? In this session, we will discuss what an engaging lesson for secondary learners might look like in the online environment. In addition, we will offer tips, strategies, and tools for developing online lessons that will captivate your learners.

Overheard: "I'm an expert at using active learning. My students tell me so in my course evaluations." We'll straighten this out with an active learning building block approach. Come ready to participate and leave with strategies and resources.

We’re not telling you it’s going to be easy; we’re telling you it’s going to be worth it. Making digital content accessible for all so learners can access all content and activities and all learners can easily navigate and interact with all course components is our job. This session will explore the QM Standard 8 and give participants quick tips & examples to help meet the guidelines.

This session will detail the implementation of Standards 8.3 and 8.4 in the context of an internal custom review system at the community college level. How do you communicate the changes, provide accessibility training, and verify courses meet the Standards?

Based on research into student perceptions of online course quality and the relationship between the Community of Inquiry and Transformative Learning, this presentation demonstrates why and how to: a) create consistency in online courses; b) transition learning objectives to the method for learning rather than merely a post hoc measure of it; and c) reframe questions in assignment instructions as declarative statements to create more effective and efficient teaching and learning experiences.

For leaders in online education, the word "design" has a new resonance.  It reflects the prominent role of instructional design in the structuring of the student learning experience.  It also signifies the responsibility of leaders to plan, implement, measure, and analyze.  To prepare new leaders, MarylandOnline (MOL) launched a Leadership Institute (MOLLI).  MOLLI's Director and planning council members will share lessons learned in MOLLI 2017 and plans for MOLLI 2018.

Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) is a small teaching approach to enhance student learning. Explaining to students the "why" of an assignment is the premise of TILT. Three parts of TILT — purpose, task, criteria — align with objectives to show the relevancy of an assignment to a student. TILT supports the Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric and helps instructors to think intentionally about activities. Examples from an online course using TILT and several resources will be shared.

In the last decade, significant emphasis has been placed on the process of creating quality online courses, with distance learning staff collaborating with faculty to create engaging and meaningful online course content. One way to meet the challenge of designing quality online courses, given the time and financial investment, is to create what is frequently termed a “master course”.

Are you interested in approaches to quality assurance in online programs in higher education?

The Department of Nursing created a Course Design Team and user friendly templates for developing online courses RN to BSN and BSN to DNP programs.  The course design makes it easier for the student to identify the course and module objectives, assigned reading and videos.  The course templates increase consistency throughout the program thereby increasing student satisfaction as evidenced by increase in course evaluation scores.

While online learning is convenient as it gives the students the opportunity of being flexible, many learners suffer from feeling isolated or disconnected from the community. To promote interaction in online learning, we add a new feature to the traditional system, Tele-Instruction, which enables students to interact with the instructor at their convenience. The system provides the possibility of peer and content interaction and can use machine learning algorithms to improve lecture quality.

Faculty support staff at Oregon State University Ecampus found that while they had the tools needed to depict quality course design — the QM Higher Education Rubric — they needed a resource that could paint a picture of what quality online teaching looks like. Recognizing the need for faculty support and development extended beyond course design, Ecampus staff developed research-based Online Teaching Principles to help online educators take a well-designed course and facilitate it successfully.

In this session, the presenters will discuss how one historically black university (HBCU) sought to overcome skepticism by engaging science faculty in their area of expertise: research.  Preliminary results from research conducted on flipped classroom methodology will be discussed along with their implications.  Additionally, presenters will discuss efforts to develop a Community of Practice (CoP) on campus.   The session will conclude with some hands-on exploration of different tools and techniques for creating fl

With more faculty becoming familiar with using multimedia in online courses, the question that needs to be addressed is how effective are we at reaching our students. In this session, we will explore the research and discuss a framework for developing quality multimedia for online courses.

With more faculty becoming familiar with using multimedia in online courses, the question that needs to be addressed is how effective are we at reaching our students. In this session, we will explore the research and discuss a framework for developing quality multimedia for online courses.