7:30am – 9:00am Registration and Coffee

9:00am – 9:05am Welcome

9:05am – 9:45am Implementing a Quality Matters Initiative to Promote Exemplary Course Design
Speakers: Robin Robinson, Director of Education Technology and Support, Framingham State University

Framingham State University adopted Quality Matters (QM) as the course design standard in attempt to remedy student perceptions. The University is committed to implementing the Quality Matters standards for the design of online and blended courses, and we are systematically building and evaluating our courses based on these rigorous, research-based standards. The faculty cohort program, now in its third year, is a reflection of the University Commitment to Excellence and our mission to Support Student Success. It is also demonstrates the willingness of our faculty to participate in a continuous quality improvement process that is well underway to meeting our Quality Matters Program Goals. During the presentation we will share the evolution of the program, implementation strategies and our best practices.

9:45am – 10:45am Course Templates: Two Views

Session 1: Supporting Students with Course Templates
Speakers: 
Melba Acevedo, Director of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning at Northern Essex Community College
Jody Carson, eLearning Developer at the Center for Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, Northern Essex Community College
Susan Tashjian, Instructional Support Specialist at the Center for Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, Northern Essex Community College

Create a consistent learning experience for students by using a course template based on the principles outlined in the Quality Matters rubric. Students need to see consistency in course design when they move from course to course. The simplest way to achieve this is through a course template. We offer faculty the option of using Blackboard templates that were developed by our Center for Instructional Technology staff along with input from faculty.

Course templates are also beneficial because they:
• Provide links to current NECC student support services, policies, resources, and information
• Save time in creating courses by providing a clear starting point for course development
• Help to ensure a consistent experience for our students and promote best practices in course structure and organization 
• Can be easily customized by allowing faculty to simply fill in information and add/delete content and tools

Session 2: Supporting Faculty and Students with Course Design Templates
Speaker: Lynn Zayac, Director Center for Instructional Technology, Westfield State University

The Center for Instructional Technology has developed course templates for faculty serving as a model and starting point for faculty. Each of the templates can easily be customized and includes ideas for the instructor on various activities and other resources. The purpose of these templates is not to constrict the faculty but rather to free the faculty from spending time on online course design and structure, instead faculty have more time to spend on their content, course materials, and creativity. Additionally it provides a consistent learning experience from course to course and allows students to focus on the course content and Blackboard software. The course template is based on Quality Matters and the CIT Best Practices Rubric.

Advantages:
Saves time for the faculty and students,
Simplifies course creation for faculty,
Provides important links for students and faculty to services, policies, resources, and information that help reduce anxiety, student support,
Helps to provide students and faculty with best practices in course design which leads to increased faculty support, student support, and learning effectiveness.

10:45am - 11:00am Break

11:00am – 11:30am Making the Transparent Apparent: Engaging All Students with the Online Learning Process
Speaker: Marc Boots-Ebenfield, Director Center for Teaching Innovation, Salem State University

Describing specific learning outcomes is just the first step in designing an interactive online course. The next step involves connecting with your learners and engaging them with the learning process. This session will present a simple procedure for designing learning cycles that engage all learners. We will discuss using background surveys to create heterogenous groups for discussions and team projects that stretch students beyond their comfort zone. The learning cycle concludes by giving students a chance to show off what they have learned and connect the learning to other course modules, other courses or their own lives. While peer and instructor feedback is integrated throughout the learning cycle, a simple table that lists work completed and instructor feedback has proven to be a huge asset for less engaged students.

11:30am -12:00pm Small Group Conversations and Activities

12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch

1:00pm – 1:30pm The Importance of Orientations in Preparing Online Students for Success
Speaker: Amber Vaill, M.Ed., Assistant Dean of Online Instructional Services, Bay Path College

Research shows that providing an orientation course to new online learners greatly impacts students’ feelings of preparedness for their first online course. Institutions have many options to consider when developing an orientation, such as what content to include and what delivery method to utilize. This session will explore some of these options, discuss how Bay Path College provides its orientation to new online learners, and present some findings from a recent study on students’ feelings about their orientation’s impact on their preparedness and success in the online classroom. 

1:30pm - 1:45pm Break

1:45pm - 2:30pm Online Student Success: Maturation, Motivation, & Mobilization
Speaker: George Claffey Jr., CIO Charter Oak State College

Founded in 1973, Charter Oak State College (www.CharterOak.edu) is Connecticut’s only public online college, offering associate and bachelor’s degree completion programs. As an entirely online institution, the college is challenged to develop processes and procedures to serve students anywhere, anytime, at a distance while providing excellence in customer service. Charter Oak’s presentation will showcase some of the tools and techniques that it uses to help ensure student success, motivation, verification, and support.

2:30pm - 3:00pm Small Group Conversations and Activities

3:00pm End