>>>The Office of Distance Learning is partnering with the Kentucky Virtual Campus and Quality Matters
>>>>>>>>>>>>to create a team-based peer review process for WKU online courses.
The Quality Matters™ (QM) project was awarded to MarylandOnline by The U.S. Department Fund For The Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). The QM project has developed a quality assurance process that will recognize the quality of online courses. The goal of QM is to create a mechanism for continuous course improvement through a collegial review process involving faculty from many different institutions. As of 2006, QM became a self-funded program which offers peer reviewer training and access to an online database and rubric to subscriber schools across the U.S. For more information on Quality Matters please visit thier website at http://www.qualitymatters.org/
The Kentucky Virtual Campus (KYVC) is acting as a partner and advocate for the QM program by paying for the initial training of 60 reviewers from several KY colleges and universities. WKU, Morehead State, U of L, and KCTCS schools Bluegrass and Jefferson are currently participating in reviewer training. UK, EKU and NKU are also interested in joining the KY QM initiative.
Each 3-member online course review team is made up of a team chair, and two other faculty members or instructional designers. One person on the team will be from the same discipline as that of the reviewed course and at least one team member will be from the course's home institution.
How do the review teams operate?
Prior to beginning a course review, the review team members talk to the faculty member whose course is under review. This allows the faculty member to discuss aspects of the course that are unique to the course or to the institution. After completing the review, the teams input scores and useful recommendations into a database which generates a report for the faculty member whose course is reviewed. When the course meets QM review standards the faculty member will be supplied a "QM Recognized" logo to add to the online course.
Fill out and submit a Course Review Application to your Institutional Representative. The WKU Institutional Representative will contact you will more information about the online course peer review process.
Who can be a peer reviewer and how can I sign up to be on a review team?
You should have formal training from within your organization on how to teach in an online setting.
You should have taught online for more than two academic semesters (or 6 months, whichever is longer) and have taught within the last 18 months. QM training will be offered online and at locations across the state of KY to teach you how to apply the review rubric. If you are interested in being a course reviewer fill out and submit a QM Memo of Understanding to your Institutional Representative.
The QM Institutional Representative at Western Kentucky University is Pam Wilson. Phone 270-745-2106 or email pam.wilson@wku.edu.
Hours and on-campus location: M-F, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Office of Distance Learning, 104 Garrett Conference Center, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd. 61084, Bowling Green, KY 42101-1084.