Growing Quality Matters in an Online Organization: A Grass-roots Approach
In the Spring 2011, The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) Center for Online Learning, Teaching & Technology (COLTT) set forth a plan to create an organizational culture, which would embrace quality and academic rigor in online learning. To initiate the plan, UTPA subscribed to Quality Matters and became the first university in the UT System to be a Quality Matters subscriber.
Using a grass-roots approach to culture change, COLTT incorporated Quality Matters into the organization. The approach included changing the organizational structure and behavior, modifying the physical and virtual workplace, adjusting the workflow and information distribution, providing QM training to faculty and staff, implementing a measurement and incentive system, engaging stakeholders, and building trust.
Technologies
Through the implementation of best practices in the design of online courses, several instructional technologies are used to facilitate the process being presented, and also in the courses that are the result of the process described in the presentation. Some of these educational technologies include synchronous web conferencing technologies such as Blackboard Collaborate, and Lecture Capture technologies such as Tegrity. A Traditional Learning Management System is also used in this process.
Explain project results
Optimize retention of Hispanic students in online courses or programs, Promote the effective development and implementation of assessment efforts in Distance Learning, Manage contact hours to assure equivalence of activities between distance education and regular courses
Why it should be considered best practice?
A systematic approach to course design based on program goals is always the best approcah to design and develop online courses that are part of an online academic program. The case study presented will guide the audience on the approcah that was taken to 1. Secure buy-in from strategic stakeholders, 2. Implement a quality assurance framework for online courses and programs at the insituition level 3. change the culture of an institution that embraces group collaboration in the design and development of online programs 4. Implement research-based practices into the design and development of online courses and programs.
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