scholarly journals Leveraging Course Quality Checklist to Improve Online Courses

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitesh Kathuria ◽  
David Wayne Becker
Keyword(s):  
Online Teaching ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Course Quality ◽  
Daunting Task ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Compliance Requirements ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Quality Checklist

Designing high quality, interactive online courses in a technologically rich environment can be a daunting task even for experienced faculty. This process becomes more difficult when faculty are teaching multiple classes, juggling service and research/creative scholarship. In order to help faculty focus on key aspects of online teaching and course design, we developed a checklist with links to institutional resources which help faculty meet several best practices for online teaching. Use of checklists and rubrics to meet quality assurance standards is common (e.g. - OLC OSCQR Course Design Review Scorecard, 2018; Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric, 2018), however they vary significantly with the time required to review a course (Baldwin, Ching, & Hsu, 2018). Our goal was to create a checklist that helps faculty design basic elements of the course and expedite the self-review process.  Given the current COVID-19 situation, when instructors were suddenly asked to teach remotely, this Course Quality Checklist will help faculty self-review their existing or new online course via multiple lenses such as course orientation, policies, organization, alignment, as well as Universal Design for Learning and interaction. Faculty may use this checklist to create a clear and consistent structure within their course. The checklist also links to several online, just-in-time resources (e.g. course templates, design and pedagogy training, and standards for interaction and accessibility). This will ensure they meet essential standards, save time, reduce cognitive load, and meet specific compliance requirements. 

scholarly journals Experiencing the shift: How postsecondary contract and continuing faculty moved to online course delivery

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Patricia Danyluk ◽  
Amy Burns
Keyword(s):  
Online Teaching ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Course Delivery ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Online Environment ◽  
Faculty Position ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Additional Work

The shift to online learning that occurred in March of 2020, created an unprecedented period of intense work for faculty and sessional instructors at the post-secondary level. This shift necessitated courses be adapted under short timelines, new technology be integrated into course design and teaching strategies and assessment methods be adapted for an online environment (Van Nuland et al., 2020). This study examines how sessional instructors, referred to in this chapter as contract faculty, and continuing full-time faculty members delivering the same online courses experienced this shift. While the demands of a continuing faculty position call for balancing of teaching, research and service responsibilities, contract instructors have their own unique stressors (Karram Stephenson et al., 2020). Contract faculty lack job security, are paid by the course and often receive their teaching assignments with short notice. By examining their perspectives on delivering the same courses online, we learn that the shift to online teaching resulted in additional work in order to adapt courses to the online environment, with faculty describing the challenges of balancing the additional work with other responsibilities of their position. Concerns of participants focused on a perceived inability to develop relationships with students in an online environment.

Establishing Considerations for Universal Design for Learning and Accessibility in Online Courses

2021 ◽  
pp. 474-495
Author(s):  
Aisha S. Haynes
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Instructional Designers ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
University Support

Students with and without disabilities are enrolling in online courses. Universal design for learning (UDL) and accessibility strategies should be implemented proactively when designing and developing online courses. Quality assurance and accessibility standards, university support, professional development, and instructional designers are important for instructors to successfully design online courses and teach online. The purpose of this chapter is to provide educators with strategies for implementing UDL and accessibility in online courses.

Using Gagné's Events of Instruction to Analyze Online Course Quality

2011 ◽  
pp. 2231-2238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc R. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Instructional Design ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Design Quality ◽  
Course Quality ◽  
Events Of Instruction

Student perceptions of online courses are likely influenced by two overarching aspects of quality: instructor quality and course design quality (Ortiz-Rodriguez, Telg, Irani, Roberts & Rhoades, 2005). Both of these forces in online education may be analyzed using a well-known model of instructional design - Gagnés instructional design and cognition theory, the centerpiece of which are the nine events of instruction (Gagné, Wager, Golas, & Keller, 2004). Multiple studies positively correlate learner attitudes and perceptions of the online course to instructor quality. Early studies evaluating instructor quality attempted to correlate instructor quality with the attitude and perception of the learner, but not directly to learner success or course design quality. Researchers of online courses, such as Palloff & Pratt (2003), discussed the role of the instructor in depth while neglecting the roles of the learner, the institution, and course design. The main focus remained instructor-centered, and highlighted key instructor tasks such as understanding the virtual learner in terms of roles the learner plays, fostering team roles for the learner, designing an effective course orientation, and identifying potential legal issues the instructor might face (Palloff & Pratt, 2002, p. 16). A distant secondary focus was on effective course design. This highlighted instructor tasks in building an effective online learning community without highlighting the roles effective communication tools would play.

Designing and Teaching for Student Engagement in Online Courses Through UDL

2020 ◽  
pp. 314-329
Author(s):  
Ruby L. Owiny ◽  
Elizabeth Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Student Engagement ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Learning Modules ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Design For Learning

Any course must be goal-focused and consider the needs of all learners. However, online courses require instructors to be proactive in planning for learning. Recruiting and sustaining engagement in an online course must be carefully considered and planned for during all learning modules or units. This chapter addresses how to keep students engaged by considering their affect, the general way students feel toward their learning. Affect impacts motivation, which in turn can impact how a student persists in a course. The Universal Design for Learning principle of engagement addresses the affect through three guidelines. These guidelines are explained in this chapter with potential barriers to student learning and motivation explained as well. Furthermore, possible solutions are provided to give readers examples of ways in which they might reduce or remove barriers to engagement in their online courses.

scholarly journals Familiarity, Current Use, and Interest in Universal Design for Learning Among Online University Instructors

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl D Westine ◽  
Beth Oyarzun ◽  
Lynn Ahlgrim-Delzell ◽  
Amanda Casto ◽  
Cornelia Okraski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Online Faculty ◽  
University Instructors ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Survey Results

This study investigated online faculty familiarity, course design use, and professional development interest regarding universal design for learning (UDL) guidelines. The researchers surveyed all 2017 to 2018 online faculty at a large university in the southeastern United States. Findings included 71.6% of faculty reporting familiarity with at least one UDL guideline, with most respondents indicating familiarity with guidelines relating to perception, expression, and communication. Faculty reported the highest implementation of UDL guidelines was for those suggesting options for comprehension as well as expression and communication; the lowest implementation was for those suggesting options for physical action as well as language and support. Survey results also indicated high to moderate interest in learning more about all UDL guidelines, with emphasis on comprehension, persistence, and expression. This study suggests that faculty members desire UDL training and offers possibilities for planning and implementing such professional development in areas targeted to best meet the needs of online faculty.

scholarly journals Switching Gears

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-43
Author(s):  
Claudia Moessenlechner ◽  
Regina Obexer ◽  
Maria Pammer ◽  
Julia Waldegger
Keyword(s):  
Online Teaching ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Management Education ◽  
Student Interaction ◽  
Online Assessment ◽  
Success Factor ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
Training And Support

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic turned into an urgent priority for higher education institutions in that they had to move to remote teaching within a matter of weeks. This paper presents the results of a quantitative survey looking at the challenges university faculty were facing when moving their course(s) online during the first semester of the COVID-19 crisis.The survey looks specifically at course design and formats used in online teaching during the crisis and compares differences occurring between disciplines (STEM and management education). The outcomes overall mirror a sense of achievement due to the successful delivery of online courses with little preparation. Difficulties lecturers identified were related to promoting student interaction and engagement, technical issues, the effort required to plan and prepare online learning materials, and challenges with regard to online assessment. Having access to training and support in various forms was highlighted as an important success factor.

scholarly journals Faculty development needs assessment for online teaching

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 5063
Author(s):  
Ayman Z. Elsamanoudy ◽  
Rasha Abou-Kamer ◽  
Fatma M. Ghoneim ◽  
Sherif El-Saadany ◽  
Mona A. Soliman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Faculty Development ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Software Tools ◽  
Response Scale ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Almost All

Background: Academic staff members, who are responsible for teaching and training, should be aware of the principle of online course design, development, and implementation. The aim of this study is to evaluate instructors’ skills and needs for conducting distance learning healthcare courses, including the level of assistance they need to implement and use online and software tools in online courses.Methods: The current study applied online faculty survey used by the Center for Teaching Excellence, University of South Carolina to assess the faculty’s instructional technology needs for training and support. The survey asked faculty staff about a broad number of classroom and online technologies, with a helpful response scale that reveals not only what the faculty is already using, but also what the instructors want to use and what they need help with.Results: The results of this study revealed a significant need of faculty staff members for the training and development of their skills in almost all tools used for conducting online courses. The female responder was higher than males. Regarding the use of software, although the majority of participating staff members in this study use almost all software tools required for conducting online healthcare courses, they expressed a need for help in developing new ideas to use the software effectively.Conclusions: From this study, it could be concluded that it is essential to organize comprehensive faculty development training courses for staff members to help them in conducting their online courses or converting their face-to-face courses to blended courses effectively.

scholarly journals Reaching Students in Online Courses Using Alternative Formats

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Fidalgo ◽  
Joan Thormann
Keyword(s):  
Learning Styles ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Graduate Level ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Student Questionnaire

<p class="3">This research was conducted to explore whether students enrolled in graduate level courses found some Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies useful and if they actually used them. The strategies we investigated were presenting course information in alternative formats including PowerPoints with voiceover, screencasts, and videos as an alternative to text resources. In addition, students were invited to submit assignments in alternative formats as well as text. To examine these strategies, we used a student questionnaire, analytics from Blackboard, and assignment formats students used. The results indicate that text was the preferred format for accessing course information and resources as well as assignment submission. However, a substantial number of students acknowledged the benefits of using alternative formats and a smaller percentage used them. We suggest that instructors take advantage of UDL strategies that were examined since a sufficient number of students used them and because learning styles differ. We can reach more students by using these strategies.</p>

Administrative Factors in Design and Delivery of Open and Distance Learning Course Materials

2018 ◽  
pp. 117-145
Author(s):  
Hakan Altinpulluk ◽  
Hakan Kilinc
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Design Principles ◽  
Education Systems ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Universal Design For Instruction ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
The Disabled

Principles of the Universal Design for Instruction (UDI) can be applied to open and distance education systems as an approach derived from universal design principles. UDI can be used not only for the disabled learners in open and distance education institutions but also for the creation of accessible learning environments for all learners. Within the scope of this study, the history and features of universal design principles in the field of architecture are explained first; then, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Universal Instructional Design (UID) and UDI concepts, which are educational adaptations of universal design principles, are examined in detail. In the last section, management processes of open and distance education systems, examples of universal design in open and distance education and managerial processes in course design and delivery, are examined. In this way; modern approaches such as UDI principles are studied in terms of their applicability within the framework of design and delivery management in open and distance education environments.

The Role of Course Management Systems (CMS) in Addressing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in College Classrooms

2018 ◽  
pp. 60-78
Author(s):  
Laura R. Ficarra ◽  
Deborah A. Chapin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Universal Design For Learning ◽  
Course Management ◽  
Extensive Experience ◽  
College Classrooms ◽  
Experience Teaching ◽  
Design For Learning

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the use of a course management system (CMS) platform, Blackboard, which offers a framework for electronic resources accessed via technology (i.e., discussion boards, online tutorials, simulations, etc.), and will speak to how using CMS in this fashion allows teachers in higher education to address universal design for learning (UDL) in a way that is responsive to various learner profiles. This chapter offers an investigation of the implications of using CMS as a flexible method to employ UDL via blended learning and its influence on students in institutions of higher education (IHE). The authors provide strategies that emphasize best practice based on research in conjunction with their combined varied and extensive experience teaching face-to-face, blended, and asynchronous online courses in IHL.

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