Quality Assurance Initiative

What is it anyway?What is it anyway?

• The Quality Assurance (QA) Initiative is a faculty-centered, peer review process designed to assess the quality of online courses.

What the process is not…What the process is not…

• Not about an individual instructor

• Not about faculty evaluation

• Not a win/lose or pass/fail test

• It’s about the course design

• It’s about course quality• It’s a diagnostic tool to

facilitate continuous improvement of online/hybrid courses

By Show of Hands….By Show of Hands….

• Familiar with the Quality Assurance (QA) Peer Review Process?

• Had your online course QA reviewed?• Participated in a QA course review?

Our ProcessOur Process

Peer Course Peer Course ReviewReview

FeedbackFeedback

CourseCourse

Course Meets Course Meets Quality ExpectationsQuality Expectations

Course Course RevisionRevision

Review Report with Faculty (along w/team chair)

Select Courses to be reviewed

Organize Peer Review Team

Peer Review Team Paperwork

Submit Review Planning Sheet to eCampus QA

eCampus QAeCampus QA Course Course

Peer Review ProcessPeer Review ProcessNotify Faculty of Course Review

Conduct Faculty Orientation

Provide Reviewer Support

Monitor Review Progress & Completion

Gather Review Results

Course Did Not Meet QA

Provide Instructional Design Support

Review Revisions w/Faculty

Assist with Course Amendment Form

Notify QA of “Met” Courses

Notify Faculty Member, Dean & eCampus Academics

Course Alignment• 5 of the 8 general standards should align:

– Course Overview and Introduction– Learning Objectives– Assessment and Measurement– Resources and Materials– Learner Interaction– Course Technology– Learner Support– ADA Compliance

Key components must align.

Some essential standards…Some essential standards…• A statement introduces the student to the course and the structure

of the student learning• Navigational instructions make the organization of the course easy

to understand• Learning activities foster interaction:

– Instructor-student– Content-student– Student-student (if appropriate)

• Clear standards are set for instructor response and availability

Other Essential Standards…Other Essential Standards…

• Assessment strategies should provide feedback to the student

• Grading policy should be transparent and easy for the student to understand

• Implemented tools and media should support learning objectives– And integrate with texts and lesson assignments

• The course acknowledges the importance of ADA compliance

Our ChallengesOur Challenges

Challenges…

• Managing High Volume of Paperwork and files• Tracking multiple aspects of each review• Collecting information from Reviewers• Timely processing of Review Analysis• Keeping the momentum• Convincing faculty this is not a formal

“evaluation”

Solutions

• “Formally” approved internal QA Procedure• Standard reporting requirements to track status

of reviews (newly implemented online forms)• “Getting Started” Letter • Regular communication with reviewers• Created Website for QA@eCampus