This module focuses on the use of selected QualityMatters elements in your distance course. We focus on certain structural elements that can be used (or reused) across courses.
Why qm elements?
QM is a program focusing on course design and a collegial review process with opportunity for modification of courses to meet the 40 QM standards, organized into 8 broad categories. This process, based on an extensive review of the literature, presents much of what is known about certain design elements important for online success.
We will focus on these structural elements for this discussion. These are often text-based instructions or clarifications found to be important in successful distance education courses. For purposes of this course, we will focus on certain elements that are easy to develop and include in almost any online course. Many of these elements focus on issues of quality and clearly inform students of the course expectations and procedures.
Many of you already have some or all of these elements in your distance courses or in your syllabi. We favor making a menu item that includes many of these as Online Course Policies and Procedures. As a menu item, these elements are available to students from any location in the course and serve as a quick reference for students. This makes it harder for students to argue "they didn't know." Feel free to modify or borrow content and ideas from any samples or examples in this section.
Qm elements
Course overview and introduction
Navigation instructions
Navigation instructions make the organization of the course easy to understand. Instructions telling students how to navigate the course and identifying the location(s) of all important course materials helps students understand where they need to go and why they need to go to that location for certain materials and/or information.
Clarify what is found in the main menu sections.
Provide explanation to students about what will be found in each menu section found on the permanent menu. This menu is available from any location in the course and is one of the essential navigation tools that students must master. Defining what is found under each menu item helps students know where to look for certain materials for the course. Don't make student guess where materials are found - clearly tell them.
Where to start?
Provide a link, a "Start Here" button, or some equivalent measure to directly tell students what they should do when they enter the course for the first time. You can do this with your opening announcement or direct students to the appropriate menu item to begin the course.
A statement introduces the students to the course and to the structure of the student learning.
You also want to give students some clarification about how the learning activities, assignments, projects, and assessments are organized. It is very helpful to students if your organizational elements for each course remain consistent from session to session. You want students to spend time exploring the content, not looking for where something is housed. Sections such as: Readings, Discussion, Activities, Assignments, and Assessments are general terms covering much of what is done in a session.
