Since the pandemic, online education has become more popular. With that, prospective students and parents often wonder what an online education will look like. Many worry that students will not learn as much or gain real connection with professors and other students.
I graduated in December with my Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. I have taken around half of my classes online throughout my time at MTSU. This includes both general education and major courses.
As a second semester freshmen in 2022, I had my first experience with a life-changing online course. For my general education English 2020 credit, I decided to take the online section that concentrated in Holocaust Survivor Literature with Dr. Elyce Helford. She is the director of the Jewish and Holocaust Studies minor here at MTSU.
Ella Cobb
Throughout the semester, I grew close to my professor through frequent communications she would provide thorough direction and feedback on my assignments.
Toward the end of the semester, Dr. Helford emailed me to notify me that she had nominated a poem I wrote about Night by Elie Wiesel for the General English Education Awards. I was beyond excited to submit my application.
Almost a year later, I was notified that I won first place in the 2022-2023 General Education Writing Awards (Category 3). I was so surprised and excited to hear this news. At this point in my life, I had only ever written a few poems.
Dr. Helford gave me the opportunity to grow and express my creativity. It is through her that I felt my confidence in my writing grow which led me to writing here.
I met Dr. Helford in-person for the first time a year after I took her course at the awards ceremony. We had a great conversation. It felt like I had known her in-person all along. I will always remember the impact she had on my life as a student and writer.
In the Spring of 2024, I took Marketing 3010 Personal Branding online with Dr. Lucy Matthews. I wanted to take her in-person after reading reviews and hearing from other students, but I was not able to get in the in-person course.
Throughout the semester, I noticed the way Dr. Matthews planned and operated her online class. She communicated frequently with her students.
I followed her on LinkedIn. I saw a post that she shared talking about an opportunity I was interested in. I emailed her and asked for advice on how to navigate that process and future goals.
She set up a phone call, and we talked in length about my professional plans. I have her for another online class this semester, and she has been just as helpful. We email frequently about opportunities, course work, and more.
We met for the first time last semester to talk about my future goals. She was incredibly helpful and instrumental in my graduate school decision. I now help her and another one of my professors with research for their next project.
In both online and in-person courses, I have made incredible relationships and connections here at MTSU with professors and students. While in-person courses can be a very impactful and meaningful learning experience, online courses can do the same.
I always recommend that students reach out to their professors and start communication early into the semester. It is a great way to get to know your professors. It is important to remember that in online courses there is less direction. You are responsible for checking your email and D2L account frequently.
You can be successful in in-person, online, remote, or hybrid courses. Your experience is what you make it. Online is not for everyone, but it worked really well for me.
Welcome to Spring 2025 from MTSU Online. On behalf of our mighty team of nine people, we are primed and ready to support you as you teach online. Your efforts are so important as we work together to bring the many resources of MTSU to our region, state, and beyond. So many learners rely on us to give them flexible learning opportunities that they would not otherwise have due to factors such as time, location, and family, and work responsibilities.
MTSU Online continues its run of significant growth, as it has for the last several years. These two graphs show the growth in the number of fully online programs, and the growth in online enrollment in terms of student credit hours.
The number of fully online programs offered has increased significantly, and we now have 73 programs, with 43 of those programs launched since 2020.
In Fall 2024, 54% of MTSU took at least one online course.
In Fall 2024, MTSU Online supported 28 full-time, temporary instructors in 18 academic departments who focus on providing high-quality online teaching.
The number of fully online programs offered has increased significantly, and we now have 73 programs, with 43 of those programs launched since 2020.
In Fall 2024, 54% of MTSU took at least one online course.
In Fall 2024, MTSU Online supported 28 full-time, temporary instructors in 18 academic departments who focus on providing high-quality online teaching.
This growth is attributable directly to the faculty and departments being willing to innovate and work toward student success. Our team is proud to support you in your excellent work. I hope you benefit from this newsletter, and I wish you a highly successful Spring semester.
Respectfully,
Trey Martindale Professor and Associate Vice Provost for Online Learning
Have you Heard?
Quality Matters® is Here
Due to the hard work of our MTSU faculty across campus and our MTSU Online staff, we have grown exponentially and now offer more online courses and programs than ever. Thank you for all your efforts! With so many of our students taking at least one online course (more than 50%), we want to ensure we do all we can to offer faculty the resources and services needed to aid in their student’s success. To that end, MTSU has become a full subscriber institution with Quality Matters® (QM).
What does that mean?
QM is the gold standard in online course and program development, design, and delivery. Rooted in the principles of online student success practices, QM will now be the foundation of every online course developed and designed through MTSU Online, allowing us to increase our efforts in achieving excellence in quality assurance.
If you want to learn more or find out how to participate in our updated quality assurance efforts, watch the short video below and scan the QR code on the screen or in the QM Launch Infographic and fill out the form. You can also send questions to our QM Liaison, Tara Perrin. Please see this newsletter’s Webinars and Workshops section for upcoming virtual QM Events. We will be posting more information about QM on our MTSU Online website under the for faculty option very soon.
ProctorU is our new online proctoring service. If you don’t need a proctored exam in the next 10 days or so, please wait. We will have the integration completed soon. Our ITD team has worked very diligently, and encouraged the vendor to fix their issues with the integration. *
As you may know, Meazure Learning is the vendor MTSU contracts with for exam proctoring within D2L. Meazure Learning owns both Examity and ProctorU, and Meazure Learning has ended Examity. So now, MTSU and all their other university customers will use ProctorU.
We are currently working with ProctorU to complete the LMS integration, as ProctorU has had some difficulty completing this. Please view the Proctoring Services webpage for more information about proctoring options and resources. You can also watch the recording of the ProctorU introduction webinar.
If you have any support information regarding Examity in your D2L courses or have the link included in the Navigation Bar of D2L, please remove it.
If you have any questions, please contact our Assistant Coordinator of Student Services, Tonya Dowd.
D2L Email Function is Being Discontinued
As was announced in Fall 2024, the D2L email function will no longer be available in the LMS. There is no announcement of a specific date, but we encourage faculty to be prepared. If you are a faculty member who uses the email tool, please make sure that any references to D2L Email are removed from your course and syllabus. Students’ mtmail address should be used for all student communications. If you would like to discuss strategies for communicating with your class/students or organizing emails, please contact any of our Instructional Designers or email us at [email protected] and your message will be forwarded appropriately.
MTSU Online Drop-in Clinics will Continue
We are pleased to announce that our Instructional Design Drop-In Clinic pilot was a success and will continue for the Spring 2025 semester! These clinics are an opportunity for any faculty or staff member to drop in and speak with one of our ID team members. Bring your questions, ideas, or concerns about our LMS or other online teaching topics. All Clinics are virtual and last 90 minutes; registration is NOT required – just pop in. Clinics are scheduled for the following dates:
MONTH
DATE
TIME
January 2025
Wednesday, 22nd
10:00-11:30
AM
February
Thursday, 6th
1:00-2:30
PM
Tuesday, 11th
1:00-2:30
PM
Monday, 17th
10:00-11:30
AM
Wednesday, 26th
10:00-11:30
AM
March
Thursday, 6th
1:00-2:30
PM
Monday, 17th
10:00-11:30
AM
Wednesday, 26th
10:00-11:30
AM
April
Thursday, 3rd
1:00-2:30
PM
Tuesday, 8th
1:00-2:30
PM
Monday, 21st
10:00-11:30
AM
Wednesday, 30th
10:00-11:30
AM
May
Thursday, 1st
1:00-2:30
PM
Tuesday, 13th
1:00-2:30
PM
Monday, 19th
10:00-11:30
AM
Wednesday, 28th
10:00-11:30
AM
MTSU Online Webinars and Workshops
Quality Matters (QM) Workshops
45-minute Informational Session on the following dates/times:
Tuesday, February 4th at 8:15am – 9am Wednesday, February 5th at 12pm – 12:45pm
QM Certification is recognized worldwide as an online course and program development leader. It is a holistic approach to development that includes eight (8) standards that support and promote student and faculty success. Interested in earning a QM® Certification for your online course and want to jumpstart that process? Consider being in our inaugural HIDOC offering facilitated by Tara Perrin. The session is open to all and the HIDOC seminar is limited to 12 participants.
This Seminar is open to any faculty interested in earning the QM Certification designation for a new online or hybrid course after completing the HIDOC Blueprinting experience. In addition to the critical reading and reflection of the book, participants will develop their online course using the blueprint worksheets provided in the book for each step of the development process.
Books will be provided. Virtual attendance is required. MTSU Online will pay for the QM Certification fee for your newly developed course provided you complete all the deliverables required of the seminar. Participants must reflect on their overall experience and how the QM Certification experience has impacted their pedagogical approaches.
Upon completion, your QM Certification badge can be linked to your LinkedIn account, included on your course syllabus, and promoted on your department’s website. We will also celebrate your accomplishment through Quality Matters’ social media channels and on our campus. This is a substantial commitment that spans 2 semesters.
Approximate Length: 3 weeks, Asynchronous
Approximate Start Date: End of March – More Details to Come
Want to become an internal MTSU QM Peer Reviewer? The first step is taking this course. QM’s flagship workshop, Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR), is required to become an internal or general(?) QM Peer Reviewer. This course is intended for any faculty member who desires to participate in MTSU’s new Quality Assurance process following Quality Matters principles as an Internal Peer Reviewer.
In addition to learning about the QM Rubric and the course review process, participants will learn to apply the concept of alignment and draft helpful recommendations for course improvement.
This asynchronous course will be offered after spring break. The facilitator is Tara Perrin, Instructional Designer for MTSU Online, QM Certified Facilitator of the APPQMR, and QM Certified Peer Reviewer. These sessions are limited to the first 20 participants per QM protocols. This course will be offered throughout the year as part of our new quality assurance initiatives.
There is no substitute for experience! Your colleagues who have experience meeting QM’s rigorous course design standards and implementing QM on their campuses can provide you with valuable insights and experience. “QM Success Stories” are webinars from your colleagues and fellow members. The sessions are scheduled once per month and are FREE for QM members only! Space is limited to the first 1000 registrants. You can register once and view the webinar with colleagues. QM Success Stories are recorded. The following are offered in January and February:
Tuesday, January 21·12:00 – 1:00pm
Presented by Jennifer Davis, Instructional Designer at University of Cincinnati Online
Integrating RSI into online course design and delivery brings meaningful engagement between instructors and students which aids in student success and is vital to meeting compliance requirements. Participants will gain a clear definition of RSI, discover actionable strategies to integrate RSI principles seamlessly into course components and create a design plan for integrating RSI into existing online courses or when designing new courses. REGISTER with QM
Tuesday, February 11·12:00 – 1:00pm
Presented by a Sonya Woods, Lead Accessibility Consultant, and Matt Farley, Accessibility Consultant, from Penn State World Campus at Pennsylvania State University
Accessibility is not just about compliance; it’s about creating better experiences for everyone. In this session, we’ll outline the recent ADA updates that extend regulations to websites and mobile apps, and what they mean for organizations. We’ll also explore actionable strategies for improving accessibility, such as optimizing page structure, enhancing readability, and designing inclusive videos and images. Whether you’re new to accessibility or looking to refine your approach, this session will provide valuable insights to help you create more inclusive content. REGISTER with QM
Teaching and Technology (TNT) Workshops
About Teaching ‘n’ Technology (TnT) Series (Tuesdays): In partnership with the LT&ITC, this workshop series offers practical guidance on integrating technology into your courses. These short, 30-minute workshops*** combine hands-on demonstrations and information on effective strategies for enhancing student learning. This series is virtual, recorded, and posted on our MTSU Online YouTube Channel. We hope you will subscribe!
***Two (2) sessions in the TNT series are 1 hour: the first and last. They have been notated with asterisks.
Presenters: Tara Perrin, Karen Hein, Hangmin Zhang, Tim Oneal
Did you get your courses up-and-running for spring? Have you run into any issues or need assistance brainstorming tweaks for your online courses? Visit with us during this session.
February 4th (Wednesday) 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Presenter: Tara Perrin, Karen Hein, Hangmin Zhang, Tim Oneal
Now that you’ve gotten started with your spring course, let us help you review shortcuts for sending announcements as you facilitate regular and substantive interaction (RSI) in your online course.
February 18th (Tuesday) 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Presenter(s): Tara Perrin, Karen Hein, Hangmin Zhang, Tim Oneal
It slices, it dices, it chops… D2L’s VideoNote feature is a bit of a Swiss Army knife tool you and your students can use for more engaging online learning experiences. Learn more or refresh your awareness of this tool and the resources available to support its use.
March 4th (Tuesday) 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Presenter(s): Tara Perrin, Karen Hein, Hangmin Zhang, Tim Oneal
It’s the spring edition of how to use D2L to assemble the information needed for reporting undergraduate student midterm grade information. Use this session as a refresher for creating a Midterm Grades column in your online course.
March 18th (Tuesday) 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Presenter(s): Tara Perrin, Karen Hein, Hangmin Zhang, Tim Oneal
You’ve just returned from Spring Break and recharging your creative juices. Join us for a few quick thoughts on how you can use that refreshed energy to infuse creative moments in your online courses.
Tuesday, April 1st (Tuesday) 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Presenter(s): Tara Perrin, Karen Hein, Hangmin Zhang, Tim Oneal
It’s the middle of the semester; do you know where your Discussions are? Let’s explore what you can to do re-invigorate your Discussion boards as you encourage more engaging student interaction.
Tuesday, April 15th (Tuesday) 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Presenter(s): Tara Perrin, Karen Hein, Hangmin Zhang, Tim Oneal
Wrapping up the semester, we encourage instructors to seek feedback from students as to their experiences in your online course. The D2L Survey feature can be useful in collecting this feedback.
May 6th (Tuesday) 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Presenter(s): Tara Perrin, Karen Hein, Hangmin Zhang, Tim Oneal
We’re so over this spring semester. Connect with us to resolve any last-minute issues or share any horror stories you’d like to avoid “next time” with your online courses
Special Thanks
Drs. Lando Carter and Jenn Caputo, Interim Directors, LT&ITC
With great respect and tremendous gratitude, we say a big THANK YOU to the LT&ITC Interim Directors, Drs. Lando Carter and Jenn Caputo. Since instructional designers were added to MTSU Online in the fall of 2019, the LT&ITC has been a supportive partner to us individually and as a group, providing space and programming for instructors of all ranks and lengths of service to hone their skills, consider pedagogical approaches, and learn from their faculty peers and instructional design team. From the start, the LT&ITC welcomed MTSU Online instructional designers as part of the MTSU family, which was appreciated more than you both will ever know. It has not always been an easy road, but the LT&ITC made it much smoother and, frankly, more fun.
As the “Center” progresses to its next chapter, we look forward to continuing the collegial partnership established with the LT&ITC and these terrific, dedicated faculty members. Thank you for your service to our MTSU Community. We wish you both well in your next endeavors and will faithfully continue the tradition established during your dedicated years of service.
Staff Spotlight
Mrs. Tara Perrin, M.A.
Hi! I am Tara Perrin, the “eldest” of the MTSU Online Instructional Design Team, having just celebrated my 5 year anniversary at MTSU Online. (Yes, I started with COVID). Before coming to MTSU in 2020, my journey to instructional design started with concierge advising of online students, which then segued into the instructional design field with an online student focus at Tennessee Technological University. Having obtained degrees at MTSU in Sociology emphasizing education and first-generation students, my passion for inclusion and belonging is long held. As I discovered my love for online students and quality design and development, I earned certifications in online development, design, and teaching from Oregon State University and Quality Matters®.
Currently enrolled in the Ed.S. Higher Education concentration at MTSU, my focus is online students and modalities and the quality assurance processes rooted in student success. In my work with faculty, I strive to build relationships and collaborate positively, so students see themselves in quality MTSU online courses. This helps students connect to our university, follows better practices centered on quality assurance, and, most importantly, allows students to dream bigger by seeing themselves represented in all spaces, including the academy.
Originally from Florida, I have been in the Boro for 17 years with my husband of almost 30 years, Richard. We currently have 3 furbabies, 2 cats (Roxie and Bailey), and our Great Pyrenees ((Travis) Kelce). We are HUGE Kansas City Chiefs fans, hence our dog’s name. I love to watch documentaries, read good books, and work with our talented faculty to make MTSU Online the best option for all students, near and far! .
Our MTSU Online Family has Grown!
We are thrilled to announce a new arrival to our MTSU Online Family! Please help us congratulate Dr. Tim Oneal and his wife, Tiffany, on the birth of their little girl, Evelynn Zella Oneal (Evie). She arrived on January 5th at 3:19 pm, weighing 5.12 lbs. Both momma and baby are healthy, and everyone is doing well. Welcome to our MTSUO Family, Evie!!!
