Outcomes from Implementing Quality Metric Guidelines into Online & Hybrid Online Courses & Programs: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Concurrent Session 9
Blended MERLOT

Brief Abstract

This Emerging Ideas Session will present outcomes from a 2 year, campus-wide faculty incentive program focused on improving the quality of courses and programs offered both online and in hybrid/blended online learning environments.

Through collaborative work with information technology, the teaching and learning center, academic colleges, and administrative channels, a faculty incentive grant built around providing support and training was implemented and evaluated. Outcomes from the training and incentive program are discussed, along with lessons learned on implementation of a campus-wide, monetary faculty incentive program focused on the outcomes of quality.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Sherri Restauri, Coastal Carolina University

Sherri Restauri, Ph.D., Senior Executive Director of the Coastal Office of Online Learning, Coastal Carolina University Sherri currently serves as the Senior Executive Director of the Coastal Office of Online Learning at Coastal Carolina University. She is an Associated Faculty with the Psychology Department at CCU, and specializes in teaching senior-level classes in lifespan psychology, such as Child Development, Adolescent Development, and Gerontology. Sherri has served in academia within the field of online learning for over 20 years in the role of instructional designer, LMS administrator, faculty, and over the last decade plus as a university-level administrator. In addition to her work with Coastal, Sherri also serves the MERLOT organization as the Editor of the Professional Coaching board, as well as an editorial board member and peer reviewer for the Psychology MERLOT board. Her research focuses on methods for improving student success in the academic environment, to include all modalities of learning (online, face-to-face, hybrid, flipped, etc.). She has worked as a consultant for a number of organizations to support the development of online learning initiatives.

Additional Authors

Jessica Hall, Coastal Carolina University

Currently I hold the position at Coastal Carolina University as the Instructional Designer for Online Learning. As a Coastal Carolina Alum, it is my passion to maintain a career at the university. I truly enjoy working on campus and working with faculty members to ensure high quality online course development. Instructional Technology is my background. I hold a Master's in IT and am currently working on a Ed.S. degree in IT as well with the intentions on receiving my Ph.D in the near future.

Extended Abstract

This Emerging Ideas Session will present outcomes from a 2 year, campus-wide faculty incentive program focused on improving the quality of courses and programs offered both online and in hybrid/blended online learning environments.

Through collaborative work with information technology, the teaching and learning center, academic colleges, and administrative channels, a faculty incentive grant built around providing support and training was implemented and evaluated by the online learning department on our campus, spanning across multiple terms and all academic colleges. An internal quality metric developed by the campus was adopted and fully implemented throughout the 2 years of this project's reporting period.

Administrative considerations for online learning administrators, instructional designers, and LMS administrators include:

  • Budgeting
  • Course evaluations and metrics
  • Faculty training
  • Faculty feedback
  • OL Staff Support
  • Promotions and outreach
  • Incentivizing learning
  • Recognition and award, non-tangibles
  • Faculty morale

Outcomes from the training and incentive program will be discussed, along with lessons learned on implementation of a campus-wide, monetary faculty incentive program focused on the outcomes of quality. Best practice findings will be provided to support colleagues who are interested in learning how to incentivize, motivate, and support faculty in both small- and large-scale online and hybrid/blended online learning programs in higher education.