Towards Quality: A Project to Systematically Develop Quality Matters Skills and Capacities for an Online Department

Abstract

A three-person faculty team from the Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS) at Indiana University-Indianapolis (IUPUI) is developing Quality Matters competencies and peer-training artifacts to help design and evaluate online courses. DLIS teaches graduate students online; however, the department recently developed an undergraduate minor and major in the broad area of "data studies," which will include online courses. There is a significant need in the department to develop new courses and to do so according to best practices, which the Quality Matters program has identified. Through its 41 standards, Quality Matters sets research-based expectations for how online courses should be developed, though it makes no claim to the substantive content of a course. Certified Peer Reviewers use the Quality Matters rubric to evaluate courses and make recommendations for the improvement of courses. The rubric covers eight categories: 1. Course Overview and Introduction; 2. Learning Objectives; 3. Assessment and Measurement; 4. Resources and Materials; 5. Learner Engagement; 6. Course Technology; 7. Learner Support; and 8. Accessibility Each team member is working to achieve Certified Peer Review status, develop standards-based courses, and build artifacts (e.g., course site templates) aligned with Quality Matters standards to improve online education in the department. The team is sharing its work with institutional colleagues and developing peer-to-peer workshops. The poster will describe the team’s motivation, goals, successes, pain points, and work-to-date.