ISU Staff Represent the ITRC at Quality Matters Connect Conference

In November, four members of the ISU Quality+ team presented at the International Quality Matters (QM) Connect Conference hosted in Tucson, AZ. Dr. Lisa Kidder, Dr. Sacha Johnson, Mark Cooper, and Kim Tomkinson presented ways in which QM principles are improving learning experiences and outcomes for ISU faculty and students. Over three days, the Quality+ team members shared insights from ISU to the conference's audience of instructional designers, faculty, and administrators both in Tucson and remotely.

Kidder, Quality+ Program Manager, presented Shouldn't Professional Development Improve Online Teacher Readiness? In the Fall of 2016, ISU implemented a pre/post survey on Online Teaching Readiness (Gay, 2016) in the Teaching Online with Moodle ISU course. The survey measured how the course influenced faculty's online teaching readiness in three areas: technical, lifestyle, and pedagogical. While the results of some cohorts seemed to indicate a decrease in faculty online readiness, overall the Teaching Online with Moodle ISU course did improve ISU faculty’s online readiness. This information will be used to continually improve the course as well as explore other options for new professional development opportunities for ISU faculty. 

Instructional Designers Cooper and Tomkinson joint-presented their session, Doing it Right the First Time - Faculty Mini-Workshop Series: Accessibility-Minded Design. In preparation for the rollout of the new accessibility checker at ISU, Cooper and Tomkinson used a holistic method to teach faculty accessible design principles and demonstrate them in the LMS. These efforts include job aids, webinars, and how-to videos. Some topics highlighted were document accessibility, use of alternative text, appropriate use of headings, text formatting, and other essential features of the newly integrated accessibility checker. This holistic approach towards accessibility empowers faculty to be more proactive in incorporating more accessible design into their online courses, which results in equal access to course materials and instruction for all students by removing barriers and creating a more equitable learning environment. Additional accessibility information can be found in the ITRC Accessibility+ Toolkit Recorded Webinars and Training Youtube playlist. 

A unique aspect of the Quality+ program is providing students with a voice in the review process. Dr. Johnson, Senior Instructional Designer, and Dr. Kidder co-presented on Improving Our Student Review Process. The presentation detailed training the students on the QM rubric, the workflow of the course review process, what student feedback looks like, and why faculty value the student perspective during the review process. The ITRC has shared about ISU’s student review process in two previous QM conferences. The unique student review process has garnered much attention, prompting an invitation to present a QM Success Story in 2020 and was included in the virtual conference option. Participants stayed to request follow-up meetings to help them implement a similar process at their own institutions.

ISU has been a member of QM since 2012 and delivers tools, resources, and professional development for faculty through the ITRC's Quality+ program. Courses that go through the Quality+ program meet benchmark design standards for quality in online education, and the professional development faculty complete improves their online teaching.

To learn more about delivering a quality online learning experience, please visit Quality Matters. If you are interested in learning more about designing quality online courses here at ISU, please visit our Quality+ Program page.