Course Quality at Graduation Alliance
Graduation Alliance is committed to serving the needs of each individual learner, and excels at enabling even the most at risk student populations to succeed. This starts with exceptionally well designed courses and curriculum. Some of the unique aspects to the Graduation Alliance curriculum and instructional design processes are based upon our own custom framework, one which is fundamentally grounded in best practices and research in the online modality. Tennents of this framework included:
- A student-centered orientation
- Teacher subject matter expert teams driving standards alignment and design
- A differentiated approach, 360 support learning community model where the student is supported by their academic coach, teachers, and others.
- A commitment to continuous quality enhancement through the application of the Quality Matters k12 Online/Blended Rubric 5th edition
In 2017 the curriculum team had 6 core teachers participate in the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric training to start us on the journey to enhancing the overall quality of courses and help provide the best learning experiences and outcomes in the online modality. Graduation Alliance, as subscribers to the QM k-12 Rubric has access to the latest standards, full annotations, and examples of best practices. This year we made the commitment and decision to pursue the QM stamp of approval and to do full QM official course reviews. This marks a seminal moment not only to showcase our curriculum as QM approved, but more significantly further committing to the practice of continuous quality enhancement. The research-based tool is updated annually with the latest evidence and best practices in online and blended learning design. Additionally the QM standards are directly mapped to those in the National Standards for Quality Online Learning.
The most recent movement forward with our commitment to successful learning outcomes for our learner populations came last week when we received notice from our QM lead reviewer and liaison that our Graduation Alliance course template was accepted with no required changes. This news came on the heels of 2019’s approval of 19 Graduation Alliance courses receiving the American Council of Education’s College Credit approval, much to the excitement of the teachers, instructional designers, QA and support individuals in the curriculum department.
These two events mark exceptional steps forward in our commitment to serving all learners even the hardest to reach who have not been successful in more traditional brick and mortar modalities. Graduation Alliance and the curriculum team continue to enhance student graduation rates through this dedication to evidence-based processes, best practices, standards for online learners.
Our students will ultimately be the beneficiaries of these advancements in curriculum design, and focused squarely on providing access to meaningful, quality learning experiences online to foster their success in completing their education, beyond, and in the workforce.
For more information the Quality Matters K12 Rubric: click here
For more information on the American Council of Education College Credit Reviews: click here
