Figure 1 Quality Assurance Flowchart
Figure 1 long-text description
Model Courses
Definition
A model course is one developed by faculty under contract for the purpose of replicating the model into multiple course sections to be regularly taught by multiple faculty members. Model courses must pass a team review as outlined in Vol State’s Guidelines for Online & Hybrid Course Design and Review.
Rationale
Distance education model courses provide a valuable foundation to help faculty efficiently prepare for and deliver excellent teaching in a wide range of courses within their area of expertise. Model courses and the related faculty-developed review process are also important elements of the College’s quality assurance program.
Compensation
Faculty may be contracted to develop a model course for extra compensation when the College determines that a model course is in the best interest of a program. Rates will be determined based on the strength of the course development proposal. Only courses listed in the college catalog will be considered.
Synchronous (virtual), technology-enhanced, and traditional on-ground courses are not qualified to receive development stipends from the Office of Distance Learning.
Faculty should follow the steps below if interested in creating a model online or hybrid course for Vol State.
Step 1: Submit a Model Course Proposal
Proposals must be supported by the academic department chair or program director and the academic division dean. Supported developments are reviewed by an Instructional Designer and the Vice President for Academic Affairs to determine if it will be developed as a model course. If you are new to model course proposals, review this Sample Model Course Development Proposal Form to see what information will be needed in your proposal.
Step 2: Sign a Contract and Set up the Model Course
Once approved for development, the Office of Distance Learning will:
- Initiate a contract.
- Create a development shell in eLearn with the model course template.
- Enroll the course developer in the model course development shell.
- Assign and enroll a faculty fellow and instructional designer to provide support and consultation to the course developer.
- Enroll the course developer in required training, if necessary.
Step 3: Create a Work Schedule and Build the Model Course
A new course development typically takes between 14 and 16 weeks. The course developer will establish a project timeline with the instructional designer that works for all parties involved within the parameters of the contract deadline.
Please note:
- Failure to meet established deadlines in the contract may result in diminished or no compensation and cancellation of the contract.
- Failure to meet established course design and accessibility standards may also result in diminished or no compensation and cancellation of the contract.
Step 4: Review, Revise, and Finalize the Project
- Near the end of the development cycle, the course developer and the instructional designer will complete Part 1 of the Guidelines for Online & Hybrid Course Design.
- Once a course has passed part 1 of the guidelines it will go to a 3-person team review for Part 2 of the guidelines. The review team members will consist of an instructional designer, an online learning faculty fellow, and a subject matter expert. Each team member will independently review the course and all of their review forms will be combined to create a final course review document.
- Possible outcomes include the following.
- At least two team members believe that the course meets or exceeds all Guidelines and can be offered as-is. Recommendations for improvement may be included but are not mandatory. The course development is complete, and compensation will be issued to close the contract.
- At least two team members believe that the course has at least one guideline that needs improvement. Recommendations for improvement will be included. The course developer will be given the opportunity to fix areas marked as needing improvement. After the changes have been made, the online learning faculty fellow will confirm that the updates have been made to the course. The course development is complete, and compensation will be issued to close the contract.
Course Review Appeal Process
If, during the course review process, there is a concern with part 1 or part 2 of the review, the concern should be brought to the manager of the Office of Distance Learning or to the Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs for remediation.
If there is a disagreement about the outcome of a course review, the course developer may appeal the decision to the Dean of their academic division.
Periodic Review and Redevelopment of an Existing Model Course
After a model course is initially created and passes review, the academic department and faculty should monitor student success and retention as part of the program review cycle. Additionally, the model course developer should participate in a periodic review of the course in consultation with the Office of Distance Learning to determine what improvements need to be made. This “check-up” may be scheduled based on the chair, director, or dean’s recommendation. There is no financial compensation for participating in the consultation. Possible outcomes include the following.
- Course meets or exceeds Guidelines at this time. No compensation is issued.
- Course needs minor improvements but sufficiently meets the Guidelines. Distance Learning may suggest recommendations for improvement. No compensation is issued.
- Course needs major improvements, fails to meet the Guidelines, and should be removed from the schedule until redevelopment can be completed. Distance Learning will suggest recommendations for improvement, and the course may be scheduled for a redevelopment contract. Redevelopments will be considered alongside proposals for new model courses for additional compensation. Resources will be prioritized based on the greatest student impact.
Notes:
- If a model course does not exist and needs to be developed, the approved course process can be followed while the model course is reviewed. See the Approved Courses information below.
- Individual departments determine whether faculty are required to use a model course; however, all faculty are expected to follow the Guidelines in their individual online and hybrid course sections.
- Vol State administration, in consultation with division deans, department chairs, program directors, and faculty, will determine which courses will be developed as models.
- The development of asynchronous courses for delivery via TN eCampus is subject to the policies and procedures of TN eCampus.
Approved Courses
Definition
An approved course is any non-model course developed by faculty that has passed a review using the Guidelines for Online & Hybrid Course Design and Review. See the review process for approved courses below.
Rationale
Academic departments may need to offer an online or hybrid course when a model course is not currently available or needed. If a model course is not available, it is equally important to ensure that all online courses meet the quality and accessibility standards developed by the faculty within the Guidelines.
Compensation
There is no additional compensation for creating an approved course or having a course evaluated.
Faculty should follow the steps below if interested in creating a model online or hybrid course for Vol State.
Step 1: Submit a Request for an Approved Course Review
A faculty member, department chair, program director, or dean submits a course for approval to the Dean of Academic Support using the form linked above.
Step 2: Review Process for Approved Course
An instructional designer and online learning faculty fellow will review the course according to the Guidelines and provide a final, joint assessment of the course and recommendation to the Dean of Academic Support. Possible outcomes include the following.
- Course meets or exceeds the Guidelines and can be offered as-is.
- Course needs minor improvements but sufficiently meets the Guidelines to be offered as is. Recommendations for improvement will be included.
- Course needs major improvements. If major improvements haven't been completed two weeks before the semester begins, it must be canceled or converted to a different format.
- The Dean of Academic Support will communicate a decision. The faculty member may appeal the decision to the Dean of Academic Support. If a resolution cannot be reached, they may appeal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
The course must go through the approved course review process. If the course has not passed review at least two weeks before the semester begins, it must be canceled or converted to a different format (i.e., face-to-face or virtual).
Periodic Review and Redevelopment
Once approved, faculty are not required to have their courses re-evaluated but may choose to enlist the support of a faculty fellow or instructional designer as needed for continuous course improvements.
Model Course versus Approved Courses
The following graphic illustrates side-by-side flowcharts comparing the model course and approved course processes described herein.
Glossary
Distance Education
“For the purposes of the SACSCOC’s accreditation review, distance education is a formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction (interaction between students and instructors and among students) in a course occurs when students and instructors are not in the same place (SACSCOC, 2020, p. 2).” The SACSCOC Resource Manual (2018) defines “majority” as 50 percent or more. Therefore, the following model and approved course processes apply when 50% or more of a course is delivered asynchronously.
Asynchronous course
A course in which 100% of a course is delivered online with no required class sessions.
Hybrid course
A course that comprises two or more delivery methods (asynchronous, synchronous/virtual, and on-site). The quality assurance process only applies to hybrid courses consisting of 50% or more asynchronous delivery.
Synchronous (virtual) course
A course that is delivered via web-conferencing such as Zoom and in which class sessions are scheduled; students and faculty are present in the same virtual location at the same time. Synchronous instruction is considered equivalent to traditional on-site, face-to-face instruction; thus, the quality assurance process outlined herein does not apply.
Questions?
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