Online Teaching Framework: Implementing a Scalable Online Quality Framework in the Midst of Change

Concurrent Session 1

Brief Abstract

Dallas College responded to change (with remote learning, organizational restructuring, federal guidelines for distance education, and evolving technologies) by developing its standard for online quality, the Online Teaching Framework. Learn about its adoption and engagement strategies for 70K students, 3K faculty, and 20K courses.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Felicity Grandjean, Dallas College

Dr. Felicity Cruz Grandjean taught in EC-6 classrooms for 5 years and taught/trained pre-service and in-service teachers in face-to-face, blended, and online higher education classrooms for 15 years. She is a trained instructor on Blackboard Learn, D2L, Moodle, and the retired Pearson LearningStudio (or eCollege). Additionally, she is a trained Quality Matters Peer Reviewer, Blackboard Exemplary Course Reviewer and Disability Advocate. Felicity is honored to be a recipient of numerous awards, including TAMUC Global Fellow, TAMUC President’s Meritorious Service Award, and Dallas College’s 2018-2019 Innovation of the Year Award. She was featured in 2020 as one of Dallas College’s Women in E-Learning. Her previous roles as Post-Doctoral Fellow, Faculty Developer, and Instructional Designer focused on designing, developing, and teaching courses; and creating professional development and teacher development opportunities. Her academic leadership and service over the years involved grant writing and management, policy writing, scholarly publications & presentations, and research. In her current role as Associate Dean of Quality in E-learning, she actively pursues innovative and effective educational technological and pedagogical practices in online learning.

Co-presenter: Shani Suber, Dallas College

Shani Suber is the inaugural Dean of E-learning Effectiveness and Enhancement at Dallas College. She has served in a variety of roles including 23 years in education as a K12 teacher, adjunct, faculty, and administrator. In her current role, she is the academic lead administrator for Dallas College’s learning management system (LMS) migration. She established the Online Learning Users Group (OLUG), comprised of faculty, chairs, and deans representing Dallas College's seven schools, is a dedicated, professional group that seeks to advance online learning at the college. OLUG guides online learning policy, process, technology, resource development, and faculty and student support decisions at Dallas College. These efforts resolved the challenge of having several online quality standards into one Dallas College Online Teaching Framework implemented across Dallas Colleges’ newly consolidated one college with seven campuses. To support faculty’s professional development for new federal standards of distance education, she secured grants to support/align quality of online teaching and instructional designer support for faculty throughout the LMS migration. Her leadership spans across 80k students, 3k faculty, and 7 ‘Schools Of’ at Dallas College. Shani's portfolio includes leading collaboration across the college to aid in online accessibility, sustainability, and technology. As an online learning leader, Shani has been committed to diversity and inclusion efforts in higher education over the years. She advocates for students with disabilities and equality in education for all students while implementing innovation and review educational digital tools. It’s her honor and life’s work to commit her professional career to encouraging, developing, and collaborating with educators in this incredible and meaningful industry for the students in the community.

Extended Abstract

Follow how Dallas College responded to enormous, intersecting changes (with the pandemic and remote learning, organizational consolidation and restructuring, the new federal guidelines for distance education, and with evolving educational technologies) by developing its own standard for online quality, the Online Teaching Framework. Learn about its processes for stakeholder input, resource development, and for iterative refinement as well as its adoption and engagement strategies for 70K students, 3K faculty, and 20K courses. Share Dallas College’s journey and its resources to discover ideas for systematic, transformation opportunities in online learning in the face of change.