Quality Matters

  Under the supervision of the Deanship of E-Learning, E-Learning Supervisor, Mohsin Khan, recently delivered a 2-day training course on "Applying the Quality Matters Rubric Workshop (Virtual)". Ms. Safa Al-Shehri and Mr. Abdullah Zubain at the Deanship of E-Learning provided holistic support.   The Quality Matters (QM) Rubric introduces participants to best practices, instructional design, and research-based design principles of an online/hybrid course to ensure quality assurance.   "The 10-hour virtual workshop was particularly helpful to those new to QM or those considering the adoption of a quality assurance process for online and blended learning. It was a great opportunity for 30 faculty members from various disciplines to learn more about the QM Rubric and its use in reviewing the design of online and blended courses," Khan said.   The Deanship of E-Learning explained that the QM Rubric is a widely respected set of standards used to design effective online courses through a faculty peer review process. Participants in the virtual workshop commented that the QM Rubric increases learn engagement and learning achievement.   The Bachelor of Arts in English program is committed to offering expertise to teaching staff in other colleges, allowing them to participate in professional and academic development programs in accordance with a plan that meets their needs and contributes to the development of their performance. Date: 3/11/2021 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On 18 October 2020, Vice Dean for Academic Development & Quality, Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, delivered an in-service teacher training webinar in cooperation with the Directorate of Education in Sarat Abidah on "Quality in Educational Organizations". Vice Dean Almosa related that he planned this community service event after receiving a request from the Directorate of Education in Sarat Abidah, noting that it was an excellent opportunity for the Faculty of Languages and Translation to recommend consultative high-potential policy interventions, which are linked to a sound quality assurance system that drives continuous improvement.   The Bachelor of Arts in English program at the Faculty of Languages and Translation is committed to participating in community partnership activities as part of its role in the community partnership plan at King Khalid University. Date: 12/19/2020 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On 30 November 2020, Mohsin Khan and Dr. Sayyed Rashid Ali Shah delivered an in-service teacher training webinar to 300 participants. The webinar, in cooperation with the Directorate of Education in Rijal Alma on "Online Teaching: Authentic Assessment Tools and Strategies" by Dr. Sayyed Rashid Ali Shah and "Online Pedagogical Practices" by Mohsin Khan, provided both male and female teachers with the strategies, tools, and knowledge needed to adjust to the educational changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vice Dean for Academic Development & Quality, Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, related that he planned this event after receiving a request from the Directorate of Education in Rijal Alma, noting that it was an excellent opportunity for the Faculty of Languages and Translation to provide a unique in-service teacher training opportunity that combines learning goals, learning outcomes, and community service in a way that enhances both teacher and student growth in the region.   After introductions by Vice Dean Almosa, Dr. Shah began the discussion to center on the pedagogical shift required for online teaching, noting that assessment plays a vital role. He began by encouraging educators to introduce innovative assessment tasks based on recent trends. Dr. Shah highlighted the different types of assessment tools in online teaching and learning, helping participants to develop an understanding of online assessment tools that can be utilized/adapted by English language teachers in the Saudi EFL context. "There are a number of practices you can use to evaluate students mindfully. The best method will vary based on learning needs and objectives," he said.   Khan then discussed the need for providing context in an online environment. He then explained that a teacher must find creative ways of using a given learning management system to enhance student learning. Drawing on his experience as a Master Reviewer for Quality Matters, Khan guided participants through a series of strategies they can use to evaluate and improve their online instruction. "The mere use of technology is not enough. The success of online education lies in proper incorporation of technology in order to attain the curriculum objectives and academic goals," he concluded.   The Bachelor of Arts in English program at the Faculty of Languages and Translation is committed to participating in community partnership activities as part of its role in the community partnership plan at King Khalid University. Date: 12/4/2020 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On March 10, 2020, E-Learning Unit Supervisor, Mohsin Khan, delivered a university-wide workshop titled 'Transformation to Full E-Learning'. The workshop, under the supervision of the Deanship of E-Learning's Training Manager, Mohammed Jarallah, was developed to ensure faculty members, whether they are seasoned experts or first-time users, understand the essentials of posting documents, assignments, quizzes, tests, videos, and discussion boards. Perhaps the most important part of the webinar, which was attended by nearly 200 faculty members, was the in-depth review of the specific features and functionality of Blackboard Collaborate and Blackboard Ultra.   With the evolving public health situation presented by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), proper precautions were put in place for our teachers at King Khalid University to increase their online teaching presence. "A huge part of your success will be leveraging the technology we have made available to you. Blackboard Collaborate is a synchronous video conferencing tool that you can add files to and share your screen. I recommend that you use the virtual whiteboard to interact," said Mr. Khan. He also looked at both the 'Collaborate: Ultra Experience' and the 'Collaborate: Original Experience'. The main difference between the options – which are both offered – is that 'Ultra' is an entirely web-based interface while 'Original' requires that Java be installed.   As course content, course design, and instructor readiness are essential to implementing the best practices of online pedagogy, Mr. Khan also introduced participants to the eight standards of Quality Matters, which will ensure faculty members achieve the university's goals for delivering quality online learning. This set the foundation for the suggested online classroom model, which places focus on not just the platform, but also interactivity.   Of noteworthy mention, an adapted version of this webinar was delivered to teachers of the English Language Center on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Commenting on future webinars, English Department Chairman, Dr. Munassir Alhamami, said, "We plan to hold a similar webinar this Monday. You will learn best practices, available tools, and where to find support for teaching your classes online. I will be a part of that webinar and highly encourage you to attend."   The Bachelor of Arts in English program at the Faculty of Languages and Translation is committed to providing a supportive organizational climate and academic environment to ensure that teaching and learning strategies are student-centered. Ensuring our students are provided with an active learning environment remains a high priority through continual teaching staff participation in professional and academic development programs. Date: 3/12/2020 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On November 13th, the E-Learning Unit of the Bachelor of Arts in English program at the Faculty of Languages and Translation, in collaboration with the Deanship of E-Learning, conducted a webinar titled 'Implementing Quality Matters (QM) to Build Effective Online Assessments' from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. 185 faculty members from across the university attended.   QM is a faculty-centered, peer review process designed to properly evaluate and certify online courses and the constituent components thereof. QM has achieved both domestic and international recognition for its quality assurance and continuous improvement capabilities in online education.   Much of QM's success is attributable to its end-user focus. QM programs are: Faculty driven; Collaborative; Able to provide detailed, constructive course feedback; Collegial in nature; Learner-centered in program design and execution.   Under the supervision of Vice Dean of Academic Development and Quality, Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, and Training Manager at the Deanship of E-Learning, Mohammed Jarallah, E-Learning Unit Supervisor, Mohsin Raza Khan, delivered the webinar. He is a certified QM Master Reviewer and seasoned e-course design professional. At the outset, he reviewed the applicable QM standards for course assessment, followed by an explanation of each evaluative rubric.   Mr. Khan then described the various methods for successfully implementing the standards into an online course assessment. Later, he identified and discussed various QM strategies for online course integration into a variety of curricula. At the conclusion of the webinar, Mr. Khan said, "QM often seems extremely complicated and labor-intensive. However, following the program pays off in the long run with well-designed and highly useful courses that benefit the students." Vice Dean Almosa stated that "e-learning and online courses will play an increasingly vital role in education. QM is an important part of making sure the courses provide efficient learning and high value."   The Bachelor of Arts in English program at the Faculty of Languages and Translation is committed to faculty development and providing students with cutting-edge educational programs and the highest quality learning outcomes. Date: 11/16/2019 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On October 7, 2019, Hassan Costello delivered a workshop titled 'Introduction to Building Quality Online Courses'. The workshop, organized by the E-Learning Unit at Faculty of Languages & Translation in collaboration with the Deanship of E-Learning, was initially tailored toward the English teachers at the Faculty of Languages and Translation (FLT). However, under the supervision of Vice Dean of Academic Development and Quality, Dr. Abdulrahman Almosa, and guidance from E-Learning Unit Supervisor, Mohsin Khan, the FLT decided to open the program to all faculty members in the university system. The college expanded the program university-wide because the material is applicable to online course design across a broad spectrum of professions and disciplines. Members of the FLT and faculty from the College of Medicine attended the workshop.   As the overall quality of online courses is paramount, Mr. Costello framed the workshop in accordance with the eight general standards of Quality Matters (QM). Teaching online requires the skillful interplay of two distinct but closely related activities- course design and student interaction.   Course design requires clarity of purpose. That is, everything in the course must support the desired learning outcomes for the students. Also, online courses must be logically formatted and clearly presented with easy navigation. As students will generally not have unfettered access to the course instructor nor their classmates, the course designer should make individual student autonomy a high priority. Tracking the QM Rubric in the design process helps assure that the ultimate course objectives can be met.   Student/teacher interaction with online courses is very different than traditional classes. Students often work during irregular hours and/or at their own pace. The teacher might not be available to students at mutually convenient times. Also, a teacher may not have the time to respond to every student inquiry in a timely fashion based solely on the number of students enrolled in the class. The limitations on the level of expected student/teacher interaction must be carefully considered in the course design.   In his presentation, Mr. Costello introduced the attendees to each of the QM Rubric standards and provided a summary of 'best practices' for complying with same. The current QM Rubric (6th edition, revised in 2018) has 42 specific standards that are used to evaluate the design of online and blended courses. "Applying the QM Rubric to your course is all about 'alignment'. That is, each lecture, assignment, and activity furthers an objective supporting one or more desired learning outcomes. Aligning tasks and activities with objectives translates into a fully integrated course. The end result is a successful and positive learning experience. Think of the eight general standards of the QM Rubric as a road map that we use to design a course so that both the students and teacher reach the objective in an efficient and pleasant manner," he said.   Mr. Costello provided an introduction to and the best practices of the following general standards:   The Course Overview and Introduction; Learning Objectives (Competencies); Assessment and Measurement ; Instruction Materials; Course Activities and Learner Interaction; Course Technology; Learner Support; Accessibility and Usability.   Mr. Costello also paid particular attention to the issue of accessibility. Unsurprisingly, accessibility in course design is a top priority for many schools and institutions around the world. In point of fact, accessibility is so important that the QM Rubric includes an 'Accessibility and Usability' component. King Khalid University fully embraces the goal of expanding access to course work. King Khalid University was the first university in the Kingdom to subscribe to the tenets of QM.   Mr. Costello's presentation was chock-full of information. He acknowledged that it was hard to take it all in at once. But he encouraged the attendees in saying, "I want you to think of this workshop as a primer to the 'Applying the Quality Rubric (APPQMR) Workshop'. That workshop is provided free of charge and is sponsored by the Deanship of E-Learning to all interested faculty members. The APPQMR workshop is QM's flagship presentation on the QM rubric. There you will review many of the concepts and requirements we have seen today. Being exposed to the material and having access to the resources will be valuable in the future."   Faculty members in attendance from the College of Medicine showed great interest in applying the strategies Mr. Costello explained in his presentation. The medical college currently has an online course taught by 20 faculty members, and this workshop provided the tools to make substantial improvements to that course.   The FLT hopes to repeat this workshop to benefit more of the faculty in the near future. The Faculty of Languages and Translation is dedicated to providing world-class language education to an ever-expanding segment of the population. Date: 10/9/2019 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  The Faculty of Languages and Translation's (FLT) E-Learning Unit had a very busy semester. Under the supervision of Dean, Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi, and direction of E-Learning Supervisor, Mohsin Khan, the unit rolled out and implemented the Cambridge Learning Management System (CLMS), which has been a great benefit to our students. See article: "New Textbooks Are Key to 'Unlocking' the Potential of Our Students".   This system is highly flexible. It allows and encourages the learners to interact with one another, their teachers, and a host of online content outside of the classroom. CLMS was an enormous undertaking, and naturally, there were some growing pains. However, the system is highly capable and useful. Approximately 9,000 ELC students and 160 teachers at all university campuses were given access to the Cambridge Learning Management System (CLMS).   Given the size and scope of CLMS, quality assurance of course content is a high priority. The publishers take great pains to assure that the content is useful and appropriate for our students and have systems of quality management that drive continuous improvement. King Khalid University also has a quality assurance framework in place to ensure optimal learning outcomes and continuous improvement. The university utilizes the Quality Matters (QM) methodology for many academic and support functions.   QM is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of online educational programs. The program started with a small consortium of colleges and universities in the United States, and has grown to more than a thousand institutional subscribers worldwide. To date, QM has certified more than five thousand online courses and has provided professional development resources for nearly 50,000 teachers.   King Khalid University was the first QM subscriber in the Kingdom and has several certified courses in various curricula. KKU has won many accolades and awards for its QM efforts and course content. Our university’s QM Program serves as a model for other educational institutions throughout the MENA region. The university encourages the development of additional e-learning courses to serve our students and the community better. A QM certified course rubric must satisfy 43 international standards based on the following 8 design criteria:   Course Overview and Introduction Learning Objectives (Competencies) Assessment and Measurement Instructional Materials Learning Activities and Learner Interactions Course Technology Learner Support Accessibility and Usability   "I hope that all FLT faculty members will get involved with e-Learning to benefit our students. If you have any questions, please contact me by sending an email to mokhan@kku.edu.sa," said Khan.   The FLT E-Learning Unit conducted numerous programs for both students and faculty. These programs are designed to enhance learning outcomes for the students and further developing faculty skills. Some of this year’s programs included:   E-Learning Workshops for Students; E-Learning Practitioner Course for all University Teachers; E-Learning Campaign; Virtual Classroom (University-Wide Teacher Workshop); E-Learning Orientation for New Faculty Members of the University; Introduction to the Blackboard With Special Reference to the QM Rubric (University-Wide Teacher Training Workshop).   The e-Learning Unit also has a busy calendar for the upcoming academic year. The unit has planned a suite of programs that will further benefit existing students, attract new students, and help prepare our faculty members to better serve the university and the community. Some of these programs include:   Implementation of the QM program in EFL Teaching; E-Learning Campaign; E-Learning Day; Virtual Classroom Workshop; Student Training Workshop; Teacher Training Workshop; New Trends in e-Learning Workshop; Online Course Design; QM Alignment Concept Workshop; Online Interaction Workshop.   The Faculty of Languages and Translation is expanding its educational resources to serve more members of the community, and is committed to continuous improvement in all academic programs. E-learning is a vital component of both objectives and a vital tool for educational development at the university and other educational institutions throughout the Kingdom. Date: 5-27-2019 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

Mohsin Khan is the 1st Master Reviewer for Quality Matters at King Khalid University. In addition to serving as a QM Online Facilitator, Peer Reviewer, and E-learning Supervisor for the Faculty of Languages and Translation he delivers workshops which detail the methods behind Applying the QM Rubric. Mr. Khan always strives to assist faculty members and has coached numerous faculty members on how to obtain QM certification for their respective course. Mr. Khan has mentioned that “QM enhances the learning environment for students and teachers alike.” Mr. Khan is no stranger to improving the learning environment for students as he has already received an International QM Certification for the ENG 011 Intensive English Course. The Faculty of Languages and Translation is one of the leading colleges at King Khalid University that strives for E-Learning excellence through the Quality Matters program. Date: 11-2-2016 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

King Khalid University Rector, His Excellency Prof. Falleh R. M. Al-Solamy, awarded Dean, Dr. Abdullah Al-Melhi, with a certificate of excellence for being a vital partner contributing to the success which the data analysis initiative has brought forth under the Deanship of E-Learning. Dean Al-Melhi has worked towards improving the quality of the learning environment for students in a variety of ways:      - Employing the Quality Matters Rubric in Courses      - Innovative Leadership      - Blended Learning      - Innovative New Learning Products      - Outstanding use of New Technology      - Educational Training Programs and Campaigns The use of educational programs and campaigns by the Faculty of Languages and Translation goes hand in hand with the Tamkeen program which is primarily concerned with training teachers and students alike on e-learning programs, e-tests, and e-courses. The meeting concluded with a keynote speech delivered by Rector Al-Solamy, in which he notably articulated that, "We at King Khalid University concentrate our aspirations and future plans in the field of e-learning because that will contribute to the success of King Khalid University." Date: 9/19/2016 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation Multimedia Contribution: ELD

On January 1/25/2016 Mr. Mohsin Raza Khan, E-Learning Supervisor, conducted a workshop on how to apply the QM rubric in E-courses. The meeting was opened by the Vice Dean for Academic Development and Quality, Dr. Fahad Otaif, who welcomed all participants and highlighted the continued importance that the Faculty of Languages and Translation plays in being a front-runner of QM E-course implementation. The meeting also was also graced by Vice Dean, Dr. Ali Alamir, and Dean, Dr. Abdullah Al Melhi who further illustrated the vital importance that the QM rubric plays in E-Course design. The Dean further elaborated on the necessity to increase the amount of interaction with our students and how that positively affects their learning outcomes. The foundation of the workshop focused on the Eight General Standards that need to be implemented in E-courses to meet the rubric standards with the International Quality Matters (QM) Peer Review Board.  The eight topic areas he focused on are listed below. The Eight General Standards: Course Overview and Introduction Learning Objectives (Competencies) Assessment and Measurement Instructional Materials Course Activities and Learner Interaction Course Technology Student Support Accessibility and Usability Mr. Mohsin also covered the various issues of alignment and explained what alignment means in your course. Lastly, he illustrated the various experiences he has obtained as a Certified Master Reviewer with the International Quality Matters(QM) Peer Review Board. Date: 1/25/2016 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation Multimedia Contribution: MD Sirajul Islam