AQIP Committees Edison Community College

CQI Steering
Committee

Criterion 1: Helping Students Learn
MINUTES
OCTOBER 12, 2004

MEMBERS PRESENT: Truman Bashore, Matha Schleinitz, Maggie Myers, Ruth Barney, Susan Brunswick, and Iden Smith

The chair reported on his meeting with Deans Council.

One of the topics discussed was faculty treating web flex classes like online classes and only meeting with them once or occasionally. The deans indicated that they put a stop to this when they become aware that it is happening.

A concern was expressed that some courses are only being offered in web flex or online format. Some students might benefit from the additional time with the instructor that a traditional class offers. It was indicated that this is important to keep in mind.

The chair reported the Team’s concern about having short term classes offered in web flex format. If a student does not come in with appropriate computer skills, he or she may get so far behind while learning them that he or she is not successful in the class. There was not much discussion of this.

The issue of numbering of web flex classes was discussed. It was noted that flex and web flex classes use the same section numbers so it is difficult know which sections to include when doing comparisons like the AQIP Criterion 1 Team is doing. The deans reported that they had studied the issue last year and could not come up with numbers for web flex classes that would work in Datatel. Since we are no longer offering college-by-cassette courses, it might be possible to use the 300 section numbers previously used by them.

The chair noted that he had forgotten to bring up the Team’s concern about inadequate oversight of online instruction and lack of review of course content to determine its quality.

The chair asked the deans to consider what data collection which was begun by the Team should be continued after the team’s project is completed at the end of this academic year.

The chair reported that the Team had as one of its goals the review of the online evaluation of instruction form. He indicated that the Team would also like to review the form used for evaluation of traditional classes. The deans agreed to let the Team work on this. As the issue was discussed, there were several ideas expressed. The things that the deans look for in an online class and a traditional class are the same and include things like good communication and critical thinking. Item on the evaluation form should be formative. The chair asked for a list of areas that need to be addressed on the evaluation form. When the chair indicated that the Team did not like the yes/no responses on the current form, the deans did not object to changing the rating scale. The deans indicated that they would like to do the evaluations of instruction electronically using either Blackboard or Zoomerang. This issue will need to be explored in the future. The deans asked to be kept informed about the Team’s work on this project.

Team members were asked to prepare a list of items that they think should be included on an evaluation of instruction form. At the next meeting the Team will brainstorm items. The items will be grouped into the broad categories of communication, content, faculty, instructional methods, schedule, and tests/evaluation.