Exclusively for QMCs: Remote Teaching Resources & More

News for Higher Education Quality Matters Coordinators

Dear <<First Name>>,

You play a central role in your institution’s quality assurance efforts. Now more than ever, your skillset is needed to help not only your team but others as higher education makes an unprecedented pivot to remote learning. We want to congratulate you on the outstanding work you are doing — and provide you with information and resources to help you now and in the future. If you have a QMC-focused topic that should be included in a future communication, please email us.

Quick Tip

As a QM Coordinator, you are well-versed in online learning. But we recognize that not everyone at your institution may be. So how can you help those who are new to remote instruction stay connected to their students? Here are some ideas:

Share this presentation — Now & Later: Strategies for Transitioning to Remote Instruction for the Short and Longer Term — from Bethany Simunich, QM’s Director of Research and Innovation, and Penny Ralston-Berg, QM Research Colleague and Senior Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus.
Tell faculty and staff about QM’s Emergency Remote Instruction Checklists, which provide considerations, tips and actionable strategies to enact during a temporary move to remote instruction.
Join Bethany in Zoom during her virtual office hours — Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET through April.

Connect With Peers & Resources

At a time when we’re all feeling a little isolated, we’re bringing the community together. Join colleagues from across the country on Friday, April 24 — 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET — for the QM East Regional Online Conference. Together, we will talk about how institutions and individuals are Reimagining Quality Pathways to meet the needs of today’s diverse online learners. Register now for the reduced cost of $125.00. Your registration fee will also provide you access to the recorded conference sessions for last week’s QM West Regional Online Conference — a great opportunity to double your resources.

Upcoming Deadlines You Need to Know

May 8 — QM Award Nominations Due
It’s time to get recognized for the work you are doing to support your institution’s quality assurance efforts and foster student success. Nominate yourself, your institution or a member of your team for a 2020 “Making a Difference for Students” QM Awards. Nominations are due by May 8 so start the QM Awards nomination process today. Please contact us if you need help with your submission.

May 8 is also the deadline to submit a nomination for the Ron Legon Leadership Award. This prestigious award recognizes visionary, innovative leaders who have had a significant impact on online education quality assurance policy or practice in higher education, K–12, publishing, or continuing education. Sound like someone you know? See the award criteria and submit a nomination.

May 30 — QM Connect Call for Proposals Closes
Now more than ever, it’s critical that you and your team share the work you are doing to create quality online learning environments that set students up for success. Let others know about your ideas and experiences — present at this year’s QM Connect Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Submit your proposal by May 30. Need help? Check out the recording of Dr. Racheal Brooks’ webinar — Creating a Winning Proposal — or review recordings of some highly-rated QM Connect presentations from 2019.

The QM PD Team is Here for You

Don’t forget that QM offers dedicated sessions, providing the opportunity for your institution to experience critical professional development opportunities together. Select from topics such as accessibility and alignment, and then select the dates that work best for you. To learn more, please contact QM’s Professional Development Registrar Nancy Ragias.
Learn about Quality Matters and the factors that affect the quality of online classes by completing the free course — Elements of Quality Matters: Deliver on Your Online Promise. This one-hour, self-paced course covers many elements of QM and serves as a great introduction to the organization. It’s especially beneficial to anyone who is new to your institution or unfamiliar with QM.
On July 1, all QM professional development courses and workshops will transition to the Canvas LMS platform. The move reflects QM’s commitment to continuous improvement as we work to deliver assessed professional development to thousands of educators across the world annually.
We know budgets might be in flux during this time of uncertainty. We also know that the online modality is becoming critical to providing academic continuity. If you do have end-of-year funds to allocate, QM professional development and course reviews are great options for ramping up faculty to teach online and promoting the quality online courses you already have.