Two San José State University School of Information instructors have been awarded eCampus Office of Quality Assurance grants to enhance the quality of online courses.

Two San José State University School of Information (iSchool) instructors have been awarded eCampus Office of Quality Assurance (EOQA) grants to enhance the quality of online courses.

The grants will allow Dr. Lisa Daulby and Ruth Barefoot to improve course design and development by providing resources, workshops, peer reviews and tailored training, the EOQA’s request for proposal said.

Daulby, who also received the iSchool’s 2016 Outstanding Lecturer Award, believes she was chosen because she has demonstrated commitment to ongoing academic, professional and pedagogical development and has “a curiosity and enthusiasm for life-learning.”

“I am fortunate to have been selected as one of six faculty members campus wide. I will be working with Ruth Barefoot and colleagues from Education, Nursing, Sociology, and History, as well as team leader Debbie Weissman [also an instructor at the iSchool],” she said.

With the yearlong grant terms just getting underway, Daulby said she has been introduced to pedagogical concepts that translate into material practices that can be used in online courses. She said the program would ensure her course instructional strategies are compatible with different interests, learning styles, and preferences.

Echoing her colleague’s desire to provide various tactics to engage students, such as using different types of formats like media uploads, essay, and discussion in course assignments, Barefoot believes the benefits to the grant are “life changing” and “career defining.”

“I am always wanting to improve my course offerings, the way I teach, and how students discover and connect with new ideas,” Barefoot said, adding, “Since we are in a learning industry, these rich experiences of discovery are pivotal for students and teachers alike.”

Daulby’s grant is targeting the course design of MARA 200 The Record and The Recordkeeping Professions and Barefoot is working to further develop INFO 232 Issues in Public Libraries.

The EOQA’s goal is to “contribute to creating an innovative, engaged learning community committed to preparing students with adaptive skills and knowledge for a global 21st century, and to creating learning environments and technology infrastructure that inculcate a strong sense of Spartan Pride.”

For more information about EOQA, visit the office’s website.