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Heartland Community College
receives high mark for online course
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[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.
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“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]
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