Improving Your Online Course Workshop

May 14, 2024

What to Expect

Interested in learning more about research-based best practices for online instruction? Want to learn more about the Quality Matters Rubric? Do you have a course you have already taught online that you would like to improve?

The two-week, asynchronous workshop guides you through evaluating your own online or hybrid course and developing a plan for improvement using the Essential Specific Review Standards of the Quality Matters Rubric. You will share insights with colleagues through discussion boards and gain individualized feedback from your facilitator. The estimated time to complete all activities is 8-10 hours with two firm due dates.

The workshop is designed and hosted by Quality Matters, but your facilitator will be a Digital Learning Strategist from Clemson Online. We will help you apply QM principles using the tools available to you at Clemson.

Reflections from Past Participants

Learning from Colleagues

I was delighted to find others on campus who find teaching to be an important part of their role!
I have used open discussion boards in the past without very good results. I gained feedback on how to get better participation and how they contribute to learner-instructor interaction in an asynchronous course.
Some of the visual components that my colleagues have used that I had not had the creativity for were really beneficial.

Designing for Efficiency and Accessibility

Getting the accessibility and usage features updated would be most important. This is helpful for the instructor because the updates note compliance. This is helpful to learners because an organized lesson increases their performance outcome.
Designing an effective course takes time – it takes intentionality and it takes a team to review and look for improvements.
I was surprised to learn how much more organized and efficient my course could be using some pretty simple steps.

Improving Alignment

The most eye-opening part of the workshop was going through the learning objectives and checking for alignment. It definitely helped me identify gaps where I can improve what is in the course.
I think adding module learning objectives and linking those to assessment will have a big impact. We know from motivation theory that motivation can increase when students expect to do well and value the content. Being able to explain why we are covering material, even if the content is a bit challenging, can really ease anxiety and also increase student motivation and engagement (fingers crossed anyway!!).

Upcoming Events

Cognitive Presence and Student Engagement in the Online Classroom

Wednesday, May 15th, 1:30-2:30 PM

Join this training to learn more about helping your students achieve higher-level learning in your online classes. This training will introduce the Community of Inquiry framework and explain how increasing cognitive presence for your students improves their intellectual engagement with your course. When registering, please include any questions you have about this training topic.

Facilitated by Leslie Fuller, Ph.D., Digital Learning Strategist.

Registration: Cognitive Presence and Student Engagement in the Online Classroom.

Quick Hits: Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor

Thursday, May 23rd, 3:30-4:00 PM

This Quick Hit will cover using two academic integrity tools for online quizzes, Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor. Whether you’re new to these tools, want to see their features demonstrated, or have a specific question about using these tools in your class, this training has you covered. When registering, please include any questions you have about this training topic.

Facilitated by John Dickinson, IT Services Specialist.

Registration:QH: Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor.

Clemson Online Summer 2024 Events Calendar

Review our Summer 2024 Events Calendar to see what Online Instruction Development opportunities await!

We have a robust lineup of topics and live training formats to support your use of Canvas and other e-learning tools. Topics cover demonstrations of using Kaltura, engaging your students, and workshops to get your Canvas site ready to teach!

All of our live training is recorded. Registrants will automatically receive a link to that day’s video after it has been processed.

Contact Millie Tullis with any questions regarding these sessions.