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Qep Development

For more information
contact:


Dr. Ghazala Hashmi
QEP Coordinator
(804) 523-5515

rippleeffect@reynolds.edu



QEP Implementation Team:

Dr. Janet Adams
John Ambrose
Beth Bensen-Barber

Elaine Beaupre
David Barrish
Skip Bottom
Dr. Jackie Bourque
CJ Bracken
Dr. Ray Burton
Kelli Chapman
Carolyn Conlon
Sherry Compton
Brian Dunn
Meg Foster
Dr. Barbara Glenn
Dr. Ghazala Hashmi
Dr. Thomas Hollins
Kathy Larue
Dr. Genene LeRosen
Donna Levy
Dr. David Loope
Marian Macbeth
Debbie Mathews
Karyn Pallay
Dr. Maria Poindexter
Kathy Rhea
Kelly Schwendeman
Patrick Whitaker
Denise Woetzel
Hong Wu




The Ripple Effect: Transforming Distance Learning, One Student & One Instructor at a Time

QEP diagram Student readiness
The Ripple Effect expands
from one innovation    
 
from one vital root
 
   
from one creative mind

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College selected The Ripple Effect as the model for its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).

The Ripple Effect seeks to transform student success in distance courses by supporting both students and faculty engaged in online learning and teaching:

Student Readiness: Through SmarterMeasure, an assessment of the skills, resources, and attributes necessary for online learning, the College provides students and advisors with an evaluation of individual strengths and weaknesses so that learners can make appropriate decisions when selecting courses and programs of study. Students access the assessment through personal computers or through computers available throughout JSRCC campuses. Further information about SmarterMeasure is detailed below.

Student Orientation: Developed by a team of trained online instructors, researchers, and administrators, the new CDL001: Orientation to Learning Online, offers students an engaging and hands-on introduction to online learning. Modeling the structure of online courses, the two-week orientation introduces students to critical personal and academic skills, Blackboard technologies, and institutional resources. This free orientation is available to all students who are new to online learning or who want to strengthen their skills. CDL001: Orientation to Learning Online Registration Form.

Faculty Training: In order to provide our faculty with the support and the resources that they need to be successful and excellent instructors, JSRCC has developed a comprehensive faculty training program that focuses both upon the instructional and the technological skills critical for online teaching and learning. The training program represents a combined effort of academic divisions, the Center for Distance Learning, the Office of Technology Training, and the Office of Professional Development. Faculty interested in receiving further information about training for online teaching should contact the QEP Team at rippleeffect@reynolds.edu.

Smarter Measure

SmarterMeasure evaluates a student’s preparation for online learning. The assessment considers seven major areas: Personal Attributes, Life Factors, Technical Knowledge, Technical Competency, Learning Styles, Reading Rate and Recall, and Typing Speed and Accuracy. All new students are asked to complete SmarterMeasure as a part of regular placement testing; further, all students new to distance learning are asked to complete SmarterMeasure as they enroll in or begin online courses.

SmarterMeasure is easy to access and complete:

  1. Be sure that you are already admitted as a student at JSRCC
  2. Have your Student ID number on hand
  3. Go to http://reynolds.smartermeasure.com/
  4. Select the current semester as your Username.
  5. Type in Reynolds as your Password

Advising Students about SmarterMeasure and CDL001: Orientation to Learning Online

The Ripple Effect and FIPSE [Back to top]
fipseIn 2009, JSRCC received a three-year grant totaling $400,602 from the Fund for Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE), funded by the United States Department of Education. The FIPSE grant has significantly helped to support the institution’s efforts in developing, implementing, and assessing its Quality Enhancement Plan. The grant also assists the College in evaluating its project and in disseminating information about The Ripple Effect. The project’s external evaluator is John Sener, an expert in online teaching and learning. 


The Reynolds Ripple.
 
Follow the JSRCC QEP at The Reynolds Ripple. The blog provides updates and information about the college-wide project; it also maintains an ongoing discussion about online teaching and learning, as well as other relevant topics in higher education.


Related Links [Back to top]

The JSRCC Center for Distance Learning provides the option to take courses in a variety of settings and through alternative delivery methods that allow access to instruction from the home, office, off-campus sites throughout the state, and from a desktop or laptop computer wherever there is Internet access.

The Ripple Effect
Documents
[Back to top]
The Quality Enhancement Plan: The Ripple Effect
The Ripple Effect Video
Recommended Wording for SmarterMeasure Announcement in Syllabi
SmarterMeasure Faculty Advising Presentation
The Ripple Effect Dispatch Newsletter - May 2010
The Ripple Effect Disptach Newsletter - September 2010
The Ripple Effect Disptach Newsletter - November 2010

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