It Takes a Team: Letson and Nice (Zimmerman) Present Research Findings at SLOAN

When Centenary College moved to a four-credit curriculum, an opportunity emerged to re-examine how courses are designed. Dr. Deirdre Letson (right), Associate Dean for Curriculum and Faculty Development, and Shelly Nice (Zimmerman) (left), Senior Instructional Designer, spearheaded the course design task for Centenary’s Adult and Professional Programs. They knew the telltale components of a strong course – a student-centered approach, multiple learning options, self-direction, collaborative team work, practical knowledge gain, application opportunities, and continuous feedback. The question was how best to create such courses.

Together Letson and Nice (Zimmerman) systematically researched that very question, comparing courses created individually with those created by a “design team.” The results clearly revealed that a collaborative, team-based approach to course design generates authentic activity development and deeper learning. Those research efforts earned them an invitation to present their findings at the prestigious, nationwide SLOAN conference in November of 2008. A copy of their slide presentation is linked here.

The team-based approach incorporates four key players: a subject matter expert, an instructional designer, a course management system expert, and a quality control specialist.

Subject Matter Expert (“SME”) – using familiarity with the course discipline and industry needs, the SME identifies the knowledge and skills a learner should have upon completing the course. Full-time faculty members often partnered with the team and filled this role.

Instructional Designer (“ID”) – using knowledge of teaching and learning theory, the ID assists the SME in creating authentic activities and assessments to measure if course objectives have been met. The ID also searches for relevant “inputs” for learners, such as journal articles, web resources, and podcasts.

Course Management System Specialist (“CMSS”) -- using technological expertise, the CMSS populates the virtual course site with the course content, making it user friendly and visually appealing.

Quality Control Specialist (QCS) – using an approved Quality Matters rubric, a certified QCS reviews the course and provides feedback and suggested revisions.

All of the accelerated, eight-week courses in Centenary’s associates, bachelors, and MBA programs were created using that intensive team-based approach. As a result, the College continues to fulfill its mission of creating a learner-centered educational experience for its adult learner population.