Conference Presentations

We will examine how self-determination theory applies to elements of course design and student-centered teaching approaches that support autonomy and competence in the online, virtual, and hybrid classroom. Participants will determine how they could include student-centered approaches into their educational repertoire.

This session will present a model for using the Quality Matters Rubric in accompaniment with a competency-based educational model that follows an open entry early exit enrollment model. Each "Course" in the program has three modules that a student must complete consecutively ie: Module 1, Module 2, Module T (mastery). The former single 3 credit course model is split into three less intense and self-paced pieces that the student can complete at their
leisure within a 5-week timeline; in order 1 - T. This model also lends itself to mapping of competencies across

 It sometimes feels as though we are awash in a sea of research on online learning. Of course, QM and those who are interested in quality assurance want to know not only the tools and techniques available for online education but their role in creating a quality online learning experience - and what the most recent research has indicated about this.

Three faculty from diverse institutions, Doña Anna Community College, New Mexico State University, and the University of New Mexico, take you through their courses and experiences as their fully online courses were reviewed by Quality Matters. Examples of best practices and strategies used successfully will be highlighted as well as common areas that were missed.

Presenters are Krista MacDonald, Sharon Lalla, Rebecca Adams

This session explores administrative processes executed to implement an institution wide, faculty and student-centered approach for boosting online success through quality course design metrics tied to state initiatives, faculty evaluation criteria, and the Quality Matters 23 essential standards.

In 1987, Chickering and Gamson published their seminal work "Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education." Session participants will be introduced to the "seven principles" and will explore how they align with QM's eight General Standards. Breakout groups will brainstorm to create good practices and will share and discuss ideas. Individual participants will rank ideas that will be most useful for promoting quality instruction. After the session, presenters will compile this information and make available a "Top Ten" list for conference attendees.

Learn about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how you can apply seven specific usability hacks to determine quickly whether any online course meets General Standard 8: Accessibility & Usability—especially if you're not an accessibility expert.

Physical Education is a particularly challenging course to design in a fully-online K-12 environment. Although several national and state-run programs offer the course, each has a unique take on how to ensure students engage with the course material and achieve a healthier lifestyle through exercise. The solution for one program, a statewide virtual school in the Midwest, is to use fitness trackers. The use of fitness trackers has allowed for increased student engagement and new opportunities for student/student and student/instructor interaction.

In the Office of e-Learning (OeL), we celebrate the success of faculty and staff members who effectively participate in OeL professional development with digital badges. In this interactive session, learn how to strategically align a digital badging initiative to Quality Matters Standards!

The presenters and attendees will discuss ways to highlight quality online courses at their institutions. The presenters from the University of Alabama at Birmingham will share the development of their Online Course Showcase. They will discuss the selection process of QM-certified and other well-designed online courses for public display. Factors such as subject, design strategies, content presentation, assessment type, target audience, access, and accessibility were considered. 

The presenters and attendees will discuss ways to highlight quality online courses at their institutions. The presenters will share the development of their Online Course Showcase. We will discuss the selection process of QM-certified and other well-designed online courses for public display. Factors such as subject, design strategies, content presentation, assessment type, target audience, access, and accessibility were considered.

Simple practices make it easier for course designers to create student content use. Use Grackle on documents for accessibility and quick revisions. Learn to design courses with the common thread of improving navigation and usability within the LMS.

Faculty often struggle with how to begin to evaluate alignment in their existing courses. This presentation demonstrates simple tools that any faculty can use when aligning course objectives, unit objectives, and course activities.

You don't want to miss this hands-on, interactive session that enables you to experience simulation learning tools that successfully promotes the accomplishment of course objectives and the improvement of a learner's interaction with the course content.

The amount of information about accessible digital content can be overwhelming. Our panel of higher educators will give you practical tips about slowing the fire hose when your institution is just getting started with accessibility.

In this presentation, we will give you actionable ways to create a more inclusive online course by using language and images that include all learners. We will share examples of student feedback from our courses, workshop examples of updating course language to be more inclusive, and discuss the why behind the changes.

This active learning session shares best practices in facilitating collaborative learning to engage students in various online learning courses. The topics include: effective group management strategies, applying authentic contexts to motivate students, and assessment strategies to measure student achievement of learning outcomes, while assuring student accountability and fair assessment practices. Examples of using AI-assisted grading tools to integrate timely feedback and RSI will be shared.

Quality matters in higher education, but what if your Teaching and Learning Center does not have the resources needed to address today’s teaching and learning needs? You get creative! Come learn how one community college reinvented faculty development, creating a new plan for quality assurance.

Leverage the features in your LMS to meet QM standards on an institutional level allowing faculty to focus on the content standards. An instructional designer, division leadership, faculty from Humanities, Math, and Health Sciences will explain how a college wide approach to meeting standards is saving faculty course representatives time and creating a consistent user experience for all students college wide.

The presentation will focus on enhancing videos in online courses to impact student achievement and overall course quality.  Tools and processes to easily enhance course videos will be demonstrated along with our experience in creating such videos.