Using Quality Matters to teach

your first online class

Eric M. WilsonElliott School of Communication

Online Faculty Fellow

February 24, 2015

Flight plan

• How to get started

• What I’m learning

• How to incorporate Quality Matters principles

• Help along the way

What I’m teaching

• Comm 662S Business Journalism

• Upper-division elective; a writing-based, immersive introduction to business media, and reporting on company/industry structure, finances and regulation

• 12 students enrolled

• New class, new format

Teaching online for the first time feels like …

A process for planning an online class

Well in advance of teaching the class:

1. Select textbook chapters to cover and make lists of objectives for each unit

2. Brainstorm methods to vary instruction and support each unit

3. Think about how to incorporate Quality Matters principles such as alignment, varied instructional methods and accessibility

4. Collect syllabi, find and and borrow ideas

5. Figure out the technology

6. Start writing the syllabus

Technology resources for online newbies

• Blackboard

• Panopto: Great for short video lectures• “I enjoy watching your Web videos. I have

taken many online classes and … I feel this forum is a very good way for the student to better connect with the instructor.” – Note from a current student

• SurveyMonkey: Quick student feedback and input

• MRC experts: A wealth of knowledge

What I’ve learned so far

• Plan and work ahead

• Over-communicate for clarity and to establish relationships

• Online grading is awesome

• Keep it simple to start: You don’t have to go tech-crazy

• Be flexible

Sample class email Hi folks,

A few important notes to share:

1. All items for weeks 3-4 are due by 11:59 p.m. tonight, as always. 

2. Elliott School scholarship applications are due at noon next Wednesday, Feb. 25. You can complete the fairly quick and simple application at http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=elliott&p=/scholarships/. We have about $30,000 in scholarships and only a few applications so fair, so your chances of getting some money are pretty good! If you are not graduating in spring or summer 2015 and are a communication major, you are eligible to apply.

3. Everything for week 5 is now set in Blackboard. There's a lot to accomplish this week, so make sure you log in early in the week and plan your time effectively. 

4. Extra Credit opportunity: Amy DeVault on our faculty is running a regional high school journalism contest in the RSC on Thursday, Feb. 26, and is looking for students to proctor the individual contests. She needs proctors for 9:15-11 a.m. and/or 10:50 a.m.-12:40 p.m. You can work on other stuff while administering the sections and you get a free lunch, too. Plus, I'll give 5 points of extra credit if you proctor. If interested, contact amy.devault@wichita.edu and cc me. 

Have a great week! Royals pitchers and catchers report in 2 days :)

Keep the content engaging

• Establish expectations and structures, but try not to make any 2 weeks/units exactly the same

• Vary length of lectures and units

Pulling it all together: Teaching with Quality Matters

• What is Quality Matters (in a nutshell)?• A research-driven set of best practices used to

evaluate and “continuously improve” online courses • 8 general standards with more than 40 sub-

standards that provide examples, connect key course components and establish baseline evaluation criteria

• How do Online Faculty Fellows interact with QM?• 2 online, two-week courses: an intro/overview of

the rubric and a follow-up class that teaches you how to evaluate online classes using the rubric

Some basic principles of teaching with Quality Matters

• Everything you do in a class should have a clearly explained purpose

• Changes how you think about teaching. For example, some steps seem cumbersome (such as explaining where to find the counseling and testing center, etc.), but may not be in a setting where you never interact with some of your students.

• System stresses “continuous improvement”

• Having your course reviewed offers new perspectives and facilitates standardization/scalability

Practical QM takeaways for new online teachers

• QM “General Standard” 1 – Course overview and introduction: The overall design of the course is made clear to the learner at the beginning of the class.• Tell students how to begin the course (SRS

1.1)• Discuss etiquette expectations for online

learning, discussions, emails, etc. (SRS 1.3)• Instructor creates a sense of connection by

introducing himself or herself and asks students to do the same (SRS 1.8, 1.9)

Practical QM takeaways for new online teachers

• General Standard 2 – Learning objectives or competencies describe what learners will be able to do upon completion of the course • Explain the purpose or reasons behind an

activity is important for student engagement, especially online

• The relationship between learning objectives and course activities is clearly stated (SRS 2.4)

• Learning objectives are suited to the level of the course (SRS 2.5)

Practical QM takeaways for new online teachers

• General Standard 5 – Course activities facilitate and support learner interaction and engagement • Learning activities provide opportunities for

interaction and support active learning (SRS 5.2)

• Requirements for learner interaction are clearly stated (SRS 5.4)

Growth as an online teacher

• The buddy system

• Resources and training

• Continuous evaluation and tweaking

• Openness to new or different perspectives, methods and technologies

Get a mentor

• “Surround yourself with good people. People who are going to be honest with you and look out for your best interests.”

– Derek Jeter, retired New York Yankees shortstop (via brainyquote.com)

Get a mentor

• Someone who’s been there

• Someone who knows the technology better than you

• Someone who will be a sounding board

Learn all you can

• Even if you don’t know how you will use it right now

• Upcoming OLFF workshops: • Safe Assign/plagiarism, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 26• Online essay grading, 2 p.m. March 4• Both in 256 RSC

• Applications for the next Online Faculty Fellowship group are due March 1

Discussion and moving forward

• I want to learn more about: • Making discussions relevant and integral to

course content • How to plan ahead • Incorporating additional technologies • Building learning modules and organizing

content within units • How to archive, recall and prepare to teach a

course for the second time

Thanks for coming!

• Questions?

• Eric M. WilsonInstructor & outreach director

Elliott School of Communication

978-6059

eric.wilson@wichita.edu

@ericwilsonwsu