Distance Education & Instructional Technology Committee (DEITC) Newsletter December 2023

QM Course Certified

The eLearning Team continues to assist faculty through the QM course development process for online courses. For an overview of the course development process, visit our Development Process of Distance Education Courses page.

The following 6 courses have been QM certified since our last DEITC Newsletter.

7th Edition QM Higher Education Rubric Update

The 7th Edition QM Rubric Update workshop deadline is fast approaching. This workshop is a free, self-paced, online session for all faculty teaching online, course developers and peer reviewers until January 4, 2024. After January 4th, the workshop will be available for a $55 registration fee. To avoid paying additional fees please enroll via the QM website.

The eLearning team will also be offering a QM review session for the rubric update to help you prepare for the final assessment in the self-paced workshop. Faculty can sign up for the next "QM in a Crunch! A Crash Course on Changes to the QM Rubric Training" which will take place on December 12th on the OIT trainings website.

Transition to Ultra Courses Update

Preparations to transition to Ultra continue! Ultra Base Navigation soft launch pilot program will start Spring 2024 and full deployment launches Summer/Fall 2024. There are currently 21 faculty members participating in the soft launch pilot program. If you are interested in participating, please contact the eLearning team. In the Spring 2024 semester, faculty will have a choice on using Original or Ultra Course view. This video shows you how you can view a preview of Ultra on your actual course(s) and details on keeping it in that view or back to Original for Spring 2024: Blackboard Ultra: Instructor Choice Spring 2024 Video.

During Learning Technologies Week (LTW), a total of 53 unique faculty participated in Ultra trainings offered by the eLearning team. Trainings will continue to be offered. Register for a session at the OIT trainings website.

Top Hat Update

Exciting news! Top Hat has been funded for another year via the Title V Grant and will continue to be available free of charge to students through December 2024. Faculty are encouraged to take advantage of this great tool for taking attendance and making interactive presentations to increase class engagement. If you or your college/colleagues would like to schedule an individualized or group training, contact the eLearning team at elearning@tamiu.edu.

Open Education Resources (OER)

There was a brief discussion to promote the use of OER for all courses. The library informed the committee that there are still funds available for faculty to develop OER materials.

Registrar's Office

  • Graduation rosters are due Monday, December 11, 2023
  • Final grades for graduates are due Tuesday, December 12, 2023
  • Commencement will take place on Thursday, December 14, 2023
  • Final grades are due Friday, December 15, 2023 by noon

Next Meeting

The next DEITC meeting will be held on January 29, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. in KL420.

Past DEITC Newsletters

You may view past DEITC newsletters here.

2023-2024 Members

Co-Chairs

Dr. Hayley Kazen, Faculty Senate Appointee

Dr. Patricia Abrego, Director of Academic Technology, ex-officio

Members

Ms. Karol Batey, Instructional Effectiveness

Ms. Janet Carrillo, Dean's Appointee (University College)

Dr. Yong Chen, Dean's Appointee (A.R. Sanchez School of Business)

Ms. Triana Gonzalez, University Registrar/VPSS

Dr. Juan Hinojosa, Faculty Senate Appointee

Dr. Sean Madden, Chair of University Curriculum Committee

Dr. Joan Wakasa Murumba, Information Literacy Killam Library/Director's Appointee

Dr. Lola Norris, Graduate Studies Appointee

Dr. Martha Salinas, Dean's Appointee (Canseco School of Nursing)

Dr. Cynthia Sosa, Dean's Appointee (College of Education)

Dr. Lourdes Viloria, Faculty Senate Appointee

Dr. Donovan Weight, Dean's Appointee (College of Arts and Sciences)

Dr. Ariadne Gonzalez, Associate VP for Academic Affairs

Student Representatives

Abigail Olivares, Undergraduate Student Appointee

Monica Perales, Graduate Student Appointee