Quality Matters @ William PatersonCenter for Teaching and

Learning with Technology

Robert Alan Harris, Assistant DirectorCenter for Teaching & Learning with Technology

Welcome

Focus of the Presentation1. What factors influenced our

decision to go with QM2. Implementation Plan3. Implementation Plans as an

Educational Experience4. What’s Next

Founded in the city of Paterson in 1855, William Paterson is the second oldest of the nine state colleges and universities in New Jersey.

Set on 370 wooded acres in Wayne and North Haledon, New Jersey, the campus is just three miles from the historic Great Falls in Paterson yet just 20 miles from the rich cultural, artistic and commercial life of New York City.

The University has nearly 11,500 students. During the Fall 2013 semester, 10,027 undergraduate students and 1,387 graduate students were enrolled.

1,150 full-time employees, including 400 full-time faculty members. We have approximately another 400 adjuncts.

What factors influenced our decision to go with Quality Matters?

1.

?

Research, Review and ExperienceResearch has been refined over time andFeatures a comprehensive literature review Experience in the field distilled a thorough rubric

Eight categories Forty Three specific elements ranked from essential to

important Subscription service : http://www.qualitymatters.org

Online Courses at William PatersonThere are already a number of Online Courses being offered and

these are increasing

Lack of Training

Pursuit of Academic Excellence

Adjunct instructors2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

0100200300400500600700800900

Online Courses by Number

Num

ber

of C

ours

es

Specific IssuesLimitations of Online Pedagogy Institute Good understanding of the design processHandy tools and online course templates available

for designing the courseQuality assurance

What is Quality Matters?Quality Matters (QM) is a leader in quality assurance

for online education and has received national recognition for its peer-based approach to continuous improvement in online education and student learning

Faculty-centered, continuous improvement models for assuring the quality of online courses through peer review

Professional development workshops and certification courses for instructors and online learning professionals

Rubrics for applying quality standards to course design

Features of Quality Matters

A set of standards (rubric) for the design of online and hybrid courses

A peer review process (faculty to faculty) for reviewing and improving online and hybrid courses

A faculty support tool used by instructional development staff

A professional development opportunity

Current QM Applications

Peer Course Review

Implementation plan

2.

Implementation Plan

Train the Trainers

APPQMRWorkshops

Peer Reviewer Workshop

Peer Review of

Online Courses

QM Recognized

Courses

Spring 2104 Fall 2014 Spring 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016

Phase I: Training the TrainersFour Online Workshops1. Applying the Quality Matters Rubrics Workshop2. Peer Reviewer Workshop3. Face to Face Facilitator4. Online Facilitator

APPQMRC PRC FFC OFC

Phase II: APPQMR WorkshopsQM's flagship workshop on the QM Rubric and its use in reviewing the design of online and blended courses 1. Underlying Principles of QM2. Critical Elements of the QM program3. QM Rubric and Standards4. Focus: Alignment5. Helpful Recommendations for course improvement

Phase II: APPQMR WorkshopsDate Attendees

Oct. 31, 2014 15

Dec. 3, 2014 18

Feb. 20, 2015 6

Mar. 6, 2015 11

May 2015 2* Oct. 14 2015 6 Total 58

*Online

Phase IIIa: Stepping Up to QMShepherding faculty from the workshop to reviewA 12-point checklist featuring the key objectives for each

standard; Completing each checklist will help faculty fulfill the

requirements for each standardA variety of resources for each standardAdditional resources for Quality Matters programs

Phase IIIa: Stepping Up to QM

Stepping Up: ResourcesStandard One: Local links

Stepping Up: ResourcesStandard One: Sample course policies

Stepping Up: ResourcesStandard Five: Academic articles

Phase IIIb: Peer Reviewer WorkshopsBeing designed to prepare experienced online faculty to become Quality Matters Certified Peer Reviewers

1. Successful completion of the Applying the QM Rubric Workshop and the Peer Reviewer Course.

2. Current for-credit online teaching experience (within the last 18 months).

3. Complete an Application and a Memo of Understanding.  Submit to QM.

4. Be a current Higher Education Subscriber

*

Implementation plansas an educational experience

3.

Workshop EvaluationsFaculty Comments:The QM Rubric is helpful and clear. It was well articulated

during this workshop.I am beginning to visualize my course from the learner's point of

view.The standards will help me improve my online course.Using the actual web pages to assess using the QM rubric.I found working on the process of alignment was most helpful.

Further EvaluationsWhat was the most surprising element you found in the QM workshop?

The most surprising part was that QM has affected all my courses, not just online courses.

How scripted the presentations are required to be.

How appallingly bad some online courses are.

Official Reviews

Our mistake was to emphasize official reviews Faculty seem daunted by the official review processOur strategy now is to ramp up to the official review by

starting out with personal reviews

None yet.

Baby steps . . .

Personal ReviewsComing along!

In the last month I’ve met with more than a dozen faculty to introduce them to the personal review

The next step is to schedule personal reviews

Peer Reviewer Workshops!!Never happened.

Reason is simple, a complete lack of interest. Faculty are more concerned with getting their own courses in

order than they are with helping others.We were ahead of ourselves; interest in peer reviewing should

happen when people have experienced a review themselves.

Lessons Learned

Plan well in advanceInclude helpful tools and processesRevise the workshop as neededFollow up with individual

Instructional Design Mentorships/Consultations

What’s NextOffice consultations• We can’t expect them to come to us

Push self reviews as • Help with a course, or• Experience for an official review

Improving your Online Course – State license?!

Any Questions?Contact info:

Robert Alan Harris, MLSWilliam Paterson University300 Pompton Rd, Wayne NJ

Office: Cheng Library 120hEmail: harrisr@wpunj.eduPhone: 973 720.2451