Clemson Online: Where Tech and Teaching Meet

Inclusivity Considerations in the 7th ed. QM Rubric

The Seventh Edition of the Quality Matters (QM) Higher Education Rubric releases July 5th. One notable feature of this edition of the rubric is the emphasis on creating inclusive online courses. Here are a few ways the new rubric addresses this priority:

Instructional Materials

Standard 4.5 requires the use of a variety of instructional materials. This standard is now considered “met” if one of the following is true:

  • Various types of instructional materials are used. 
  • The instructional materials represent different perspectives and ideas. 
  • The instructional materials include “diverse, non-stereotypical representations of persons or demographic groups.”

Learner Interaction

Standard 5.4 addresses learner interaction. The annotation for this standard notes that learner interaction may be impacted by 

“cultural differences or personal sensitivities related to the nature of the interaction.”

It also suggests alerting students to sensitive or potentially traumatizing content.


Low-Cost Technology

Students needing free or low-cost options related to internet connectivity and hardware/software are considered in Standards 6.3 and 7.1.

Accessibility

General Standard 8, which is dedicated to accessibility, now reads,

“The course design reflects a commitment to accessibility and usability for diverse learners.”

This standard was written to ensure diverse learners are easily able to navigate and interact with course components.

For more reading on inclusive design, check out this QM White Paper:  Course Design Considerations for Inclusion and Representation.

If you’d like to speak with one of our specialists about making your course more accessible and inclusive, schedule a consultation. 

Already designing courses with inclusion in mind and want to share unique ways you meet these standards in your courses? We’d love to hear from you! 

To learn more about QM reviews at Clemson visit Quality Matters at Clemson. If you’re interested in submitting your course for an internal Quality Matters review, contact Jana Radley at jradley@clemson.edu

Reference: Quality Matters (2023). Seventh Edition Higher Education Quality Matters Rubric.

Upcoming Events

Design Principles for Learning

Wednesday, July 12, 1:30 – 2:15PM

Design principles can transform how your Canvas site looks and feels and how it communicates information to your students. Join this presentation to learn what design principles you can apply to enhance the impact of your course content. We have tools and resources for you to start applying what you learn in this session.

Facilitated by Casey Pearce, Digital Learning Designer

Register here for Design Principles for Learning on July 12th .

Quick Hit – Canvas Quizzes and Academic Integrity

Thursday, July 27, 3:30 – 4:00PM

Are you interested in learning about how to secure your online tests and quizzes? Join Clemson Online for a quick look at these topics to help you ensure your classes’ academic integrity. In this course, we will explain the purpose of securing your online assessments and demonstrate how to use them in your course. All of this is in just a 20-minute Quick Hits session!

Facilitated by Gray Jackson, Learning Technology Specialist.

Register for Quick Hit: Canvas Quizzes and Academic Integrity on July 27th.

Clemson Online Summer 2023 Events Calendar

Review our Summer 2023 Events Calendar to see what Online Instruction Development opportunities await!

We have a robust Summer lineup of topics and live training formats to support your use of Canvas and other e-learning tools. Topics cover demonstrations of using Kaltura, presentations on inclusive practices for online education, 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 James Butler with any questions regarding these sessions. 

Clemson Online – Where Tech and Teaching Meet