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Faculty Peer Review Rubric for Online Courses: A Delphi Study. Steven G. Lesh, Southwest Baptist University Joan D. McMahon, Towson University M. H. N. Tabrizi, East Carolina University Marj Ashcraft, Towson University. The 9 th Sloan-C International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks
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Faculty Peer Review Rubric for Online Courses: A Delphi Study Steven G. Lesh, Southwest Baptist UniversityJoan D. McMahon, Towson UniversityM. H. N. Tabrizi, East Carolina UniversityMarj Ashcraft, Towson University The 9th Sloan-C International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks Orlando, Florida November 16, 2003
Purpose • The purpose of this presentation is to report the results of a four round Delphi study which produced a rubric for use as a peer review faculty assessment tool.
Objectives After completing this mini-course, the learner will be able to: • relate the controversies surrounding the assessment of faculty leading online courses through traditional promotion and tenure guidelines, • describe the methodology of the Delphi technique to produce a peer review faculty assessment rubric, • discuss the review criteria of the rubric, and • review an online course using the grading criteria established in the faculty peer review rubric.
Background • Professional concerns appear in the literature and scholarly forums about faculty delivering online education including: • promotion • tenure • work loads • release time • compensation
Problem • Online courses demand unique pedagogy and communication strategies. However, faculty who lead online courses are being evaluated using more traditional promotion and tenure guidelines.
Solution • A Delphi study was commissioned by online educators to creatively explore ideas, attitudes, and future implications related to peer review of faculty teaching online.
The Delphi Method • Structured investigation for collecting and distilling knowledge from a group of experts through a series of questionnaires interspersed with controlled opinions and feedback (Adler & Ziglio, 1996) • Decisions on items are based on consensus of anexpert panel (Portney & Watkins, 2000)
The Delphi Method • Summarized as a communications tool adhering to these principles (Linstone & Turoff, 1975): • Anonymity • Asynchronicity • Controlled Feedback • Statistical Response
The Delphi Method The Delphi Method Form Expert Panel Report to Group Commenton Issue Analyze Commentary Disseminate Results
Project Origination • Exert panel was organized (01/02) • Joan McMahon, facilitator & coordinator • Marj Ashcraft, data compilation & coordinator • Email solicitation to interested parties • Guidelines of participation (01/02) • Data distributed and collected electronically • Timeline of activities developed
Comments on Issues • Many rich sources of information were utilized including: • Expert opinions • Practical experiences • Documented best practices identified in the professional literature
Project Overview • This four round investigation collected data and integrated feedback to develop: • a set of standardized terminology related to classifications of online learning experiences • a grading rubric for assessing the quality of a course delivered online
First Round • Address definitions of what is meant by “online teaching” • Expansion and deliberation of work forwarded by Judith Boettcher • Elaborate on what is meant by peer review of online instructor • Clarify and identify areas of evaluation • Six participants for this round
Second Round • Clarify, expand, and modify: • Criteria for peer review evaluation • Issues related to the use of a particular criteria • Online teaching definitions • Begin development of an evaluation rubric • Four participants for this round
Third Round • Integrate literature based online learning best practices into the rubric • Refine rubric, criteria and definitions • Develop a scoring form • Four participants for this round
Fourth Round • Refine rubric and scoring form • Develop a pilot survey feedback instrument • Pilot the rubric and scoring form • Sent to 28 institutions for pilot (21% response rate) • Collect data • Make revisions as identified • Finalize the rubric and scoring form
Web Definitions • Definitions of what it means to put a course on the Internet were clarified • Requirements • Examples • Approximate amount (%) of student time online • Differentiated between: • Web Course • Web-Centric • Web-Enhanced • Web-Presence
Criteria for assessment Sixteen different criteria were developed Considerations and implications 5 point rating scale Supported with literature based best practices Rubric Criteria
Navigation Course Rationale /Introduction Learning & Teaching Theories Instructional Design Goals and Objectives Learning Strategies Content Interactivity Use of Mediated Resources on the Web Assessment & Eval Internal Organization & Consistency Responsiveness to Leaner Needs Instructor’s Role Teaching Effectiveness How to Get Help Aesthetics The Rubric Criteria
Tool Utilization • The developed assessment rubric can serve several purposes including: • peer review for promotion and tenure considerations • course planning • institutional policy changes • quality control issues
The Tools • Peer Review for Online Learning by Ashcraft, McMahon, Lesh, & Tabrizi • http://www.towson.edu/~mcmahon/peerreview/On-linerubric.pdf • Peer Review Scoring Form by McMahon, Lesh, Tabrizi, and Ashcraft • http://www.towson.edu/~mcmahon/peerreview/PeerReviewScoringForm.pdf
Grant Involvement • Quality Matters: Inter-Institutional Quality Assurance in Online Learning • FIPSE grant #P116B030646 for FY 2003 • Wells, M. (Principle Investigator). Prince George's Community College (MD) on behalf of MarylandOnline http://www.marylandonline.org
References • Adler, M, and Ziglio, E, eds. (1996). Gazing into the Oracle: The Delphi Method and its Application to Social Policy and Public Health. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. • Boettcher, J (October,1999). Another look at the tower of WWWebble. Syllabus. p. 50-51. • Linstone A and Turoff M, eds. (1975), The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications, Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. • Portney, LP, and Watkins, MP (2000). Foundations of Clinical Research: Applications to Practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Thanks for Listening! • Happy Birthday to my youngest Daughter: Reaghan! • Q & A? • Enjoy the rest of your time here in Orlando!