Carol McQuiggan, Penn State University-Harrisburg
Linda Futch, University of Central Florida
Larry Ragan, Penn State University
The 13th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning

 Rationale
 Initial categories
 Partnering
 Development process
 Current status
 Discussion
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 Identify core competencies for online instructors
 Promote eLearning through a faculty self-
assessment tool
◦ Determine their readiness for online teaching
◦ Link them to appropriate resources to fill in the
identified gaps
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 Gleaned from various web and print resources:
◦ Initial preparation
◦ Use of Internet in teaching
◦ Communicating online
◦ Time management
◦ Organization
◦ Technical computer skills
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 University of Central Florida contacted January
2007
 First virtual meeting in March 2007
 Collaboration tools:
◦ Writely -> Google Docs + Phone
◦ Adobe Connect Pro
◦ Email
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 Grouped core competencies into 4 major
categories
From To
Organization Organization & Time
Time management Management
Communicating online Communicating Online
Initial preparation Teaching & Online
Use of Internet in teaching Experience
Technical computer skills Technical Skills
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 Reviewed current criteria points in each
category
 Narrowed number of criteria points to as few as
possible
 Identified criteria that might be better addressed
in another category and moved it
 Discussed categories and refined criteria points
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 Located resources to fill in the knowledge gaps
the survey could uncover
 Located research to support the online skills
identified
 Scripted general and individual feedback
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 Possible delivery mechanisms evaluated:
◦ Questionmark
◦ Online form
◦ Java score-generator
◦ Rubric tool developed by Dr. Kyle Peck
 Selection criteria:
◦ Customizability – can add own resources to feedback
◦ Data collection options at local level
◦ Provide individualized feedback
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Conference on Online Learning 11

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Conference on Online Learning 12

 Rubric feedback from team
◦ Amount of time to take survey
◦ Clearness of questions
◦ Clearness of choices
◦ Clear/helpful feedback
◦ Grammar, spelling, punctuation, accessible language
◦ Recommended changes
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 Rubric field tested
◦ Experienced online educators
◦ Educators with no online teaching experience
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 Changes recommended from field test
◦ Make survey operational in multiple browsers
◦ Change colors for printing and accessibility
◦ Add directions to begin survey
◦ Indicate expected amount of time survey will take
◦ Make question grouping obvious
◦ Additional choices needed for some items
◦ Incomplete survey cannot be submitted, but message
received refers to question numbers and questions are
not numbered
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 More changes recommended from field test
◦ Need to know to scroll down for feedback or add
feedback to top
◦ Need some way to indicate those places where faculty
skills are deficient
◦ Designate difference between generic feedback and
specific feedback, possibly putting specific feedback
first
◦ Printing instructions needed
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 Programmer to make recommended changes
 Pilot test with faculty groups
 Analyze feedback and make final changes
 Complete Creative Commons license
 Add to Sloan-C website
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 Distribution of handouts
 In small groups of 4 or 5, review a category
 One person from each small group record
points of discussion on paper
 Reconvene with sharing of major points
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Conference on Online Learning 18

 Do you think an online tool like this will be
helpful in your work?
 Do you find the categories/questions
appropriate?
◦ What should be eliminated/changed?
◦ What is missing that should be added?
 Other comments?
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