Webinar Recording: Guide to Digital Accessibility

Note this recording from the folks at QM.

An Inside Look at Accessibility

Thank you for attending last week’s webinar on the new book Guide to Digital Accessibility: Policies, Practices and Professional Development. During the webinar, the book’s editors, Drs. Rae Mancilla and Barbara A. Frey discussed the process for assembling the book, the reasons for its creation and the methods they used to compile and organize its chapters. Additionally, the editors shared some of the major takeaways they uncovered during the editing process. These included guidance on institutional policy, best practices for course design, useful digital accessibility tools, professional development strategies, and the importance of having staff dedicated solely to digital accessibility. The following resources related to the webinar are now available to access: The webinar recording. The webinar slides. A document featuring answers to participant questions that the presenters weren’t able to address during the webinar. As mentioned during the webinar, visit the Accessibility & Usability Resource Site (AURS) — an evolving compilation of information, strategies and best practices created by the QM community. Your Compendium for Best Practices on Digital Accessibility The Guide to Digital Accessibility is available now and features the perspectives of nearly two dozen educators from the QM community. Full of insights derived directly from the experiences of these professionals, the book offers practical solutions to common issues and situations spanning the world of digital education. “Looking for a single resource to inform your accessibility work? Guide to Digital Accessibility: Policies, Practices and Professional Development is it! This go-to collection of writings shares insights and practices on a wide range of accessibility topics, from helpful primers on the subject to guidance for course design and professional development efforts. I found the guide to be a valuable reference book that I will return to time and again. A must-have resource!” — Ann H. Taylor, Assistant Dean of Distance Learning, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Penn State University Purchase Your Copy

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 QM Course Design Standards or QM Program Review Criteria in a rigorous review process.

View this email in your browser  |  Forward to a friend Copyright © 2023 Quality Matters, All rights reserved. Our email marketing is permission-based. If you received a mailing from us, our records indicate that (a) you have expressly shared this address for the purpose of receiving information in the future (“opt-in”), or (b) you have registered or purchased or otherwise have an existing relationship with us. We respect your time and attention by controlling the frequency of our mailings. Our mailing address is: Quality Matters 1997 Annapolis Exchange Parkway Suite 300 Annapolis, MD 21401

🔹 One week left 🔹 Make your mark on the educational field

An item from the folks at QM.

Time Is Almost Up! Share Your Expertise

Just one week remains to submit your proposal to present at QM Connect.  What if the knowledge you’ve gained through your hard work, innovation and experience could make a big difference beyond the walls of your institution? Presenting is your chance to be a hero — multiplying the impact of your expertise by sharing it with your peers and potentially improving the academic experiences of thousands of learners. Plus, QM Connect presentations shine on a resumé, so if you’re looking to advance your career, presenting is a great way to stand out from the pack. Hundreds of educators have shared how their QM Connect presentations boosted their confidence, honed their ideas, opened new doors, and sparked professional relationships. Don’t miss your chance to reap these benefits and more! “Presenting at QM felt like I had finally reached the next level of my professional process. Learning and collaborating with colleagues from across the nation was a fresh breath of inspiration and motivation to create new pathways for growth and innovation at my institution.” — Maikel Alendy, Florida International University, QM Connect Presenter Your insight could be a gamechanger for fellow educators, for learners and for you — but only if you share it. Submit your proposal by May 26. View requirements & submit Milestones, Momentum and Innovation Nov. 6–8 Pre-conference workshops Nov. 5 Radisson Blu Mall of America _______ Create Your Submission Session Concentrations: Approaches to Equity Advancing Innovation Through Design and Strategy Quality Assurance Across the Institution Student Support Celebrating Success Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 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 QM Course Design Standards or QM Program Review Criteria in a rigorous review process.

View this email in your browser Forward to a friendCopyright © 2023 Quality Matters, All rights reserved. Our email marketing is permission-based. If you received a mailing from us, our records indicate that (a) you have expressly shared this address for the purpose of receiving information in the future (“opt-in”), or (b) you have registered or purchased or otherwise have an existing relationship with us. We respect your time and attention by controlling the frequency of our mailings.Our mailing address is: Quality Matters 1997 Annapolis Exchange Parkway Suite 300 Annapolis, MD 21401

QM May HE Newsletter: Accessibility Webinar, Rubric Workbooks, a #QuickTip and more!

A higher education focused item from the folks at QM.

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Higher Education News May 2023

Investing in a Quality Future An inspiring story is emerging in San Antonio, TX, where one new QM member has hit the ground running by setting ambitious goals for quality. In its initial implementation plan, Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) seeks to achieve two major benchmarks this summer. First, twenty of its staff members will complete the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric workshop, fostering a deeper understanding of QM Standards. Second, the institution will have twenty staff members become QM-Certified Peer Reviewers, enabling them to conduct internal course reviews. OLLU plans to leverage this dual approach to create a self-sustaining ecosystem, with staff understanding how to achieve quality and reviewers regularly verifying that understanding. OLLU sees this investment in quality through QM as vital to fulfilling its mission to provide “transformative education” to learners. “Joining QM was important to us because we are committed to providing high-quality online education to our students,” says Stacy Ybarra Evans, Ed.D, the institution’s Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence. “We wanted to ensure that our online courses meet national standards and are of the highest quality.” OLLU’s work demonstrates that there’s no need to wait to start implementing quality — by setting the right goals and making consistent progress toward their achievement, continuous improvement is within your grasp. Contact us if you need help planning your path forward. New Perspectives on Accessibility Join the editors of the new Guide to Digital Accessibility for a timely webinar! Tomorrow is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), a day of recognition and consideration for digital access and inclusion. QM is proud to honor GAAD by hosting a webinar focused on highlights from the book — authored by nearly two dozen educators from the QM community. During the event, editors Barbara A. Frey and Rae Mancilla will discuss some of the accessibility insights they’ve gleaned over the course of compiling the experiences and best practices of these educators. If you’re interested in improving your approach to accessibility, you won’t want to miss this event. Register Now >> Take QM Standards Home QM Members: the QM Higher Education Rubric, Seventh Edition is almost here — and that means it’s time to preorder workbooks for yourself and your institution’s staff. This edition is the product of community research, collaboration and thought, resulting in a Rubric that reflects and responds to the current landscape of online learning and the needs of learners and educators. QM Workbooks contain a fully annotated Rubric, including all the changes and updates in the QM Higher Education Rubric, Seventh Edition. These include: The ability for both credit-bearing and continuing education courses to be reviewed. Revised Specific Review Standards that separately address the accessibility of text, images, and video and audio content in courses. The ability for synchronous online courses to be reviewed if certain requirements are met. An emphasis on inclusion and belonging to help support learner persistence. So much more! Workbooks will ship on July 5 at a cost of $30 per book, with bulk pricing discounts available. Preorder Now >> Community-Centered Improvement  Nov. 6-8 Pre-conference workshops Nov. 5 (additional fees apply) Member pricing starts at $695 Single-day and group pricing also available Join hundreds from the QM community in Bloomington, MN this November for QM Connect 2023, our annual-in person gathering of hundreds of administrators, instructors and course designers working to develop quality in online learning. At QM Connect, you’re sure to glean new approaches, make new connections and feel the support of your peers. “There’s something for everyone, at every level. I really like the sense of collegiality and community and understanding that others have similar struggles and triumphs. I came away with a lot of ideas about how to improve supporting faculty in their course improvement efforts.” — Arlene Mendoza-Moran, QM Connect participant This year’s theme is Milestones, Momentum and Innovation. Look out for the full agenda in July, packed with sessions, panels and keynotes on topics relevant to your work and your learners. Register Now >> Want to gain recognition for your own insights and experiences in online learning? There’s just over a week left to submit your proposal to present at QM Connect. Don’t miss out — create your submission today! Strengthen Your Course Documents In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day tomorrow, enjoy this #QMquicktip from QM member Beatriz Flores from Laredo College! Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility. By using “heading styles” in word processing tools, you’ll enable screen readers to read your document with ease. By using clear and consistent heading styles, learners can navigate course content more easily and quickly find the necessary information. To improve the use of headings in your courses, it is important to create a hierarchy of headings that are logical and easy to follow. A hierarchy of headings can be achieved by using the appropriate heading styles (e.g., H1, H2, H3) and nesting them in the correct order. For example, use H1 for the main title, H2 for the main sections, and H3 for sub-sections. Heading styles can be customized by the document or by using templates. These tools along with “accessibility checkers” can help you create text that is accessible. Many learning management system text boxes include heading styles, too, so you can keep up the practice when you’re developing content in the learning management system. Congratulations! Please join us in congratulating the following Higher Education, Publisher and Continuing & Professional Education members for having one or more courses recently QM-Certified. View More QM-Certified Courses >> A T Still University of Health Sciences Austin Community College District Austin Peay State University Bucks County Community College California State University-East Bay California State University-San Bernardino Cameron University Clark College Cleveland Community College Delaware County Community College East Carolina University Florida International University Florida SouthWestern State College Florida State College at Jacksonville Florida State University Frostburg State University Galen College of Nursing-Louisville Gaston College Germanna Community College Hagerstown Community College Hawaii Pacific University Hillsborough Community College Indian River State College Instituto Profesional IACC Iowa State University Laredo College Miami Dade College Mount Carmel College of Nursing New Mexico State University-Alamogordo North Carolina Central University North Park University Northeastern Illinois University Oregon State University Reynolds Community College Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Samford University South Florida State College Southern Arkansas University Tech Texas A & M International University The University of Alabama The University of Findlay The University of Texas at Arlington University of Florida University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of North Florida University of North Texas Health Science Center University of Southern Indiana Walsh University West Chester University of Pennsylvania Yavapai College Science Interactive Welcome New Members Beijing Phihua International Education Technology, Co. Ltd Bristol Community College Hacettepe University Instituto Profesional EATRI Mapua Malayan Colleges Mindanao Midocean University North Dakota State College of Science Region 7 ESC Sitting Bull College Triton College Voorhees University Learn More About QM Membership >>

QM Members: Registration for the free Rubric Update session is open now! Register Tweet Share Forward Share Copyright © 2023 Quality Matters, All rights reserved. Our email marketing is permission-based. If you received a mailing from us, our records indicate that (a) you have expressly shared this address for the purpose of receiving information in the future (“opt-in”), or (b) you have registered or purchased or otherwise have an existing relationship with us. We respect your time and attention by controlling the frequency of our mailings. Our mailing address is: Quality Matters 1997 Annapolis Exchange Parkway Suite 300 Annapolis, MD 21401

Get 20% off the Q-Up for Digital Quality conference

A K-12 focused item from the folks at QM.

Refresh Your Work With New Inspiration From Your Peers

Did you hear? The third annual Q-Up for K-12 Digital Quality event is once again happening this fall — for a half day on Friday, September 22! We are excited to convene QM members and educators from the K-12 digital learning community to discuss strategies for improving the quality of online learning and meeting student needs. Whether you are a teacher, course designer or administrator, this event is for you. At Q-Up for K-12 Digital Quality, you’ll find support from your peers on the topics that matter most to you — topics like: Unlocking the potential of AI in education. Ensuring equity and accessibility to meet diverse student needs. Integrating synchronous elements into online courses Teaching, designing and managing K-12 courses and programs. Utilizing the K-12 Rubric and CRMS tool for course design and internal reviews. For a limited time, register for QM’s only conference dedicated specifically to K-12 education for $40 — a 20% savings. Sign up by June 30 to get this special rate! Register Now September 22, 2023 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET Virtual Register by June 30 to receive the $40 “early bird” rate! Register  Participants receive access to all session recordings for 90 days following the event 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 QM Course Design Standards or QM Program Review Criteria in a rigorous review process.

View this email in your browser Forward to a friend Copyright © 2023 Quality Matters, All rights reserved. Our email marketing is permission-based. If you received a mailing from us, our records indicate that (a) you have expressly shared this address for the purpose of receiving information in the future (“opt-in”), or (b) you have registered or purchased or otherwise have an existing relationship with us. We respect your time and attention by controlling the frequency of our mailings. Our mailing address is: Quality Matters 1997 Annapolis Exchange Parkway Suite 300 Annapolis, MD 21401

Free Webinar: Learn Accessibility Strategies from Two Experts

Note this upcoming event from QM.

QM Research Webinar Guide to Digital Accessibility Webinar Thursday, May 18 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Accessibility looms large over the current landscape of online education, and for good reason — learners deserve courses that set them up for success. Yet many instructors and instructional designers don’t know where to begin with, or how to improve, their implementation of accessibility. Join us for this free webinar, when Drs. Barbara A. Frey and Rae Mancilla will discuss their new book, Guide to Digital Accessibility, which collects examples of successful implementation from dozens of educators from across the QM community. They’ll review the key takeaways from the book, revealing innovative strategies you can use to help make online learning more accessible at your institution. Register Now The Guide to Digital Accessibility is available now. Joshua Kim, Director of Online Programs and Strategy for the Dartmouth Center for the Advancement of Learning, called it “an essential resource for every educator.” Presented By:

Barbara A. Frey, D.Ed., is an Assistant Professor with the School of Education at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and an Instructional Design Consultant with the University of Pittsburgh. She is also an active Quality Matters Facilitator, Master Reviewer, and Research Colleague. She has served as a Peer Evaluator for the Middle States Commission for Higher Education. Barbara is co-author of the book Distinctive Distance Education Design: Models for Differentiated Instruction. Rae Mancilla, Ed.D., is the Assistant Director of Online Learning for the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is also an active educator and researcher, instructing courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels. In addition, Rae serves as a Peer Reviewer and Research Colleague for Quality Matters and a bilingual Peer Evaluator for the Middle States Commission for Higher Education. Can’t make it? No need to register — recordings of QM Research Webinars can be found on our YouTube channel one week after the webinar. Find information about the Research Webinar Series and other research-related resources in the Research section of the QM website. 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 QM Course Design Standards or QM Program Review Criteria in a rigorous review process.

View this email in your browser  |  Forward to a friend Copyright © 2023 Quality Matters, All rights reserved. Our email marketing is permission-based. If you received a mailing from us, our records indicate that (a) you have expressly shared this address for the purpose of receiving information in the future (“opt-in”), or (b) you have registered or purchased or otherwise have an existing relationship with us. We respect your time and attention by controlling the frequency of our mailings.Our mailing address is: Quality Matters 1997 Annapolis Exchange Parkway Suite 300 Annapolis, MD 21401