QM Member and Research Colleague, Bethany Simunich, Ph.D., Director, Online Pedagogy and Research at Kent State Online, often shares about her experience with Quality Matters at non-QM events.

1. Creating a Quality
Template in Bb Learn
Bethany Simunich, PhD
Kent State University
Blackboard Never Stop Learning Tour conference

2. Overview
• Why create a template?
• Building in Quality Standards
• Common Components
• Additional Considerations
• Kent State Online Template Walkthrough
• Q&A / Discussion

3. Why create a template?
 For students
 For faculty
 For IDs/Ed Techs
 For Peer Reviewers
Consistency

4. Reflecting Quality Standards
Kent State Online Template
addresses:
 QM General Standard 1: Course
Overview & Introduction
 QM General Standard 7: Learner
Support (meets all four standards)
 Standard 8.1: “Course navigation
facilitates ease of use.”
 Institutional standards or QA
standards such as those from
the Quality Matters Rubric™
 Templates can easily
incorporate aspects of “Start
Here” folders and student
support services.

5. Common Components for
Quality
 Create placeholders for:
 Instructor introduction (QM
Standard 1.8)
 Course and module objectives
(ensure measurability and
alignment for QM Standards
2.1 and 2.2)
 Consider a syllabus template
for:
 Grading policy (QM Standard
3.2)
 Pre-requisites (QM Standard
1.6)
 Netiquette (QM Standard 1.3)
 Course and/or institutional
policies (QM Standard 1.4)
 Create folders/items for:
 “Start Here” folder (QM
Standard 1.1)
 Student introductions (QM
Standard 1.9)

6. Faculty Considerations
 Choices and Benefits:
 Consistent Student
Experience
 Module layout options
 Hiding tools
 Focus on learning &
teaching
 Shows alignment
 Saves them time
Flexibility

7. Support Considerations
 Consistent Interface:
 Maintenance
 Scalability
 Time
 Customization
 Common
usability/accessibility
standards (UD)
 Focus on good
navigation (standard
8.1)

8. Kent State
Online Template
Walkthrough
• Left Hand Navigation
• Start Here Materials
• Checklists
• Show/Hide Text
• Module/Folder Structure
• Placeholders/Prompts

9. Questions?
Comments?