Heartland Community College receives high mark for online course

 

[October 21, 2024] 

A Heartland Community College faculty member has been recognized for high-quality work in creating an innovative online course.

Following a rigorous review process for the online COMM 101: Introduction to Oral Communication course, Dr. Amanda Frioli recently earned the Quality Matters (QM) Certification Mark.

The QM Certification Mark is the internationally recognized symbol of online and blended course design quality and represents Heartland’s ongoing commitment to creating learning environments that provide learners with a clear pathway to success.

To ensure accessibility and meaningful assessment of the course the Quality Matters certification process prompts a comprehensive reflection of course design and assessments.

“This process made me examine every element of my course, from each click to content, ensuring it fosters a community-centered learning environment,” said Dr. Frioli. “This is especially crucial in an online classroom, as it ensures clarity and helps learners feel connected and engaged, regardless of the course format.”

In developing the online course Frioli worked to minimize barriers students may face in fully engaging with the curriculum. Utilizing closed-captioning in micro lectures, having on-camera pre-recorded lectures, and providing flexibility for the ways students demonstrate their knowledge all enhanced accessibility and ensured that all learners can actively participate and succeed.

Dr. Frioli received support to develop the online course for QM certification via a Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Innovation Grant. This internal grant supports innovative teaching at Heartland.

“The Quality Matters Official Review provides an opportunity for faculty to reflect on their course through a learner perspective,” said Rick Pearce, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “The review uses internationally-recognized standards and best practices to examine critical course components related to the learner experience and ultimately learner success.”

The QM Official Review provided independent validation of the quality, learner-focused course design that HCC has been committed to for the past several years. Reviews are conducted by QM-Certified Reviewers and use the Quality Matters Rubric and associated Standards, which are based on research and defined best practices. A course earns the QM Certification Mark once it meets QM Rubric Standards at the 85% threshold or better and meets all Essential Standards.

About Quality Matters

Quality Matters (QM) is the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. It provides a scalable quality assurance system for online and blended learning used within and across organizations. When you see QM Certification Marks on courses or programs, it means they have met or are in a rigorous review process.

[Steve Fast
Assistant to the President, Public Information and Communication
Heartland Community College]