Quality Assurance Initiative What is it anyway? • The Quality Assurance (QA) Initiative is a faculty-centered, peer review process designed to assess the quality of online courses. What the process is not… • Not about an individual instructor • Not about faculty evaluation • Not a win/lose or pass/fail test • It’s about the course design • It’s about course quality • It’s a diagnostic tool to facilitate continuous improvement of online/hybrid courses By Show of Hands…. • Familiar with the Quality Assurance (QA) Peer Review Process? • Had your online course QA reviewed? • Participated in a QA course review? Our Process eCampus QA Course Peer Review Process Course Notify Faculty Member, Dean & eCampus Academics Notify QA of “Met” Courses Select Courses to be reviewed Notify Faculty of Course Review Conduct Faculty Orientation Organize Peer Review Team Peer Review Team Paperwork Submit Review Planning Sheet to eCampus QA Peer Course Review Course Meets Quality Expectations Provide Reviewer Support Assist with Course Amendment Form Monitor Review Progress & Completion Review Revisions w/Faculty Feedback Course Revision Provide Instructional Design Support Course Did Not Meet QA Review Report with Faculty (along w/team chair) Gather Review Results Course Alignment • 5 of the 8 general standards should align: – – – – – – – – Course Overview and Introduction Learning Objectives Assessment and Measurement Key components must align. Resources and Materials Learner Interaction Course Technology Learner Support ADA Compliance Some essential standards… • A statement introduces the student to the course and the structure of the student learning • Navigational instructions make the organization of the course easy to understand • Learning activities foster interaction: – Instructor-student – Content-student – Student-student (if appropriate) • Clear standards are set for instructor response and availability Other Essential Standards… • Assessment strategies should provide feedback to the student • Grading policy should be transparent and easy for the student to understand • Implemented tools and media should support learning objectives – And integrate with texts and lesson assignments • The course acknowledges the importance of ADA compliance Our Challenges Challenges… • • • • • • Managing High Volume of Paperwork and files Tracking multiple aspects of each review Collecting information from Reviewers Timely processing of Review Analysis Keeping the momentum Convincing faculty this is not a formal “evaluation” Solutions • “Formally” approved internal QA Procedure • Standard reporting requirements to track status of reviews (newly implemented online forms) • “Getting Started” Letter • Regular communication with reviewers • Created Website for QA@eCampus