Fundamentals of Quality and Equity in Digital Learning

This workshop series presents a deep exploration of how to design and facilitate quality and equitable digital learning experiences for and with others. Participants will learn how to inclusively address the diverse needs of their learners through evidence-based, high-impact design practices, championing the following topics across their campus:

• Principles of equitable and inclusive digital learning (online, blended/hybrid, and digitally-enhanced face-to-face experiences)
• Evidence-based course design and assessment
• Student readiness and adaptive learning
• Fundamentals of continuous improvement

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the train the trainer course, participants will be able to:

• Define the fundamental characteristics of equitable and inclusive digital learning experiences across disciplines, contexts, and environments
• Guide educators through evidence-based and culturally responsive strategies for aligning learning objectives, content, and assessments within online and blended courses
• Facilitate effective, engaging educational experiences using inclusive, learner-centered digital environments
• Mobilize frameworks and evaluation tools for equity-driven assessment and facilitation of quality online course design and instruction
• Create new opportunities to collaboratively design, facilitate, and improve digital learning experiences for more equitable access

Upon completion of the faculty course, participants will be able to:

• Define the fundamental characteristics of equitable and inclusive digital learning experiences across disciplines, contexts, and environments
• Leverage evidence-based techniques, resources, and tools to build culturally responsive and culturally relevant digital learning experiences
• Employ strategies for engagement, accessibility, cultural relevance, and representation within digital learning environments
• Mobilize frameworks and evaluation tools for equity-driven assessment and facilitation of quality online course design and instruction, including the OLC’s Quality Scorecard Suite (which complements Quality Matters and other common standards)
• Address challenges of endemic racial and socioeconomic inequities within digital learning environments present at the course and/or program levels

Intended Audience

Depending on the expertise and professional responsibilities related to quality assurance procedures, participants will be recommended to participate in a train-the-trainer track or a faculty/designer track.

The train-the-trainer experience is specifically designed for educators who might serve as mentors to faculty with limited experience in the design and facilitation of online courses. Participants may include, but are not limited to:

• Faculty
• Instructional Designers
• Faculty Developers
• Program Coordinators/Directors
• Department Chairs
• Administrators

The faculty experience is geared toward all educators who seek resources and support for designing, facilitating, and assessing quality online instruction within inclusive digital learning environments across modalities, including online, blended, hybrid, and digitally-enhanced face-to-face experiences. It is particularly suited for faculty who are assigned to teach fully-online or blended courses for the first time.

Service Format

The service consists of two tracks of instruction based on the participants’ role and level of experience:

• Train the Trainer Experience
  • Facilitated HyFlex kickoff (synchronous online offering with asynchronous option)
  • Facilitated asynchronous train-the-trainer workshop (with cohorts of 25 or less)
  • Facilitated synchronous participant showcase (with asynchronous option)
• Faculty Experience
  • Facilitated HyFlex kickoff (synchronous online offering with asynchronous option)
  • Self-paced asynchronous modules for faculty/staff (unlimited participants)
  • Light facilitation for self-paced modules initially offered by OLC then turned over to train-the-trainer completers at the institution
  • Asynchronous participant showcase celebrating the efforts and artifacts of the faculty/staff who complete this engagement

NOTE: The following components may be added to the core services listed above for either track:

• Interactive toolkit
• Landscape analysis and recommendations report
• Institutional webinar series presenting findings from recommendations report
• Strategic consulting engagement

Service Length

• Train the Trainer Experience
  • 3 week asynchronous engagement per cohort
  • 5-10 contact hours per week
• Faculty Experience
  • Variable asynchronous experience depending on preference of participant preference
  • 2-5 contact hours per module