Abstract

This session will discuss the creation and use of a template for online courses developed and taught in the College of Arts and Sciences at Seton Hall University. The course template was built in Blackboard and is based on the Quality Matters™ rubric (an inter-institutionally developed quality assurance mechanism for online learning). The objectives of this session are to demonstrate best practices for developing online courses by applying a standard college wide template based on the 40 elements in eight standard categories of the QM™ rubric. Successes and challenges of such an initiative will be shared.

This session will discuss the creation and use of a template for online courses taught in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) at Seton Hall University. The course template was built in Blackboard and is based on the Quality Matters™ rubric (an inter-institutionally developed quality assurance mechanism for online learning). The rubric, adopted by the Education Policy Committee (EPC) at Seton Hall, is used as the foundation for the development of all A&S online courses.

To support this initiative, two instructional designers were trained as Quality Matters™ reviewers. The instructional designers applied the rubric requirements to a course shell in Blackboard, creating a template, which was then applied to both existing and new courses. The faculty member and instructional designer would then work together to ensure that the course content met the requirements set forth by the standards outlined in this template. Some of these standards include clear participation requirements, rubrics for threaded discussions and all assignments, course navigation information, and alignment of learning objectives, assignments and assessments.

An online Business Ethics was offered online and is used as our exemplar course to demonstrate the possibilities for enriching the online learning environment using the template and best practices while providing a pedagogically sound and engaging course. This course will be shown. Previous courses which have been developed using the template have successfully pass the EPC review and are being offered on a regular basis. Other benefits of using such a template are to assist adjuncts who are asked to teach a new course teach a course as well providing a consistent program wide environment for students and helping programs to meet their online accrediting standards.

A few faculty were reluctant to use the template because it was perceived as an infringement on academic freedom. It is important to note however, that the use of the template materials and Quality Matters™ addresses course design not discipline specific content. The review of the completed online course is taken from a students perspective therefore details such as due dates, time (including time zones), where to submit assignments, student and faculty expectations/engagement and required technologies should be addressed to ensure that both faculty and students have a positive learning experience. Other challenges included reworking face to face materials for use in an online environment based on the guidelines of the QM™ standards. At the end of each online course offering, an assessment is given to students to gain insight as to what worked and what did not. Based on their feedback and the experience and thoughts of the instructor, the courses are redesigned. The base QM™ template undergoes constant revisions as our technology changes. The content system in Blackboard is being used to update materials more easily. The use of a program or institutional wide template for online courses provides consistency, community and can aid in the development of pedagogically sound, rigorous, and engaging courses.