Charge: Course Content Group

Background

In Summer 2017 an operational governance group was created to aid in the launch of Canvas as the UMN centrally-supported Learning Management System (LMS) and to guide the transition from the then current LMS, Moodle, to Canvas. This LMS Operational Governance group was sponsored by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Office of Information Technology and included representation from many colleges across the UMN Twin Cities campus, system campuses, and key central-unit partners including the University Libraries and Academic Support Resources (ASR).

It became clear through the work of the LMS operational governance that there was a need for more coordination and governance in the academic technology ecosystem at the UMN, that goes beyond just the LMS and addresses some of the concepts found in the Next Generation Digital Learning Environment (NGDLE) model. This led to the formation of an overarching academic technology governance group: DiaLOG. This operational governance committee is currently comprised of three groups: Learning Platform, Learning Analytics and Learning Tools; and is coordinated by a steering committee. This document provides a proposed charge for a fourth DiaLOG group, the Course Content Group.

When DiaLOG was first formed, significant effort was already underway to better understand faculty practice related to course content and the impact of course content on student learning. Course content in this instance refers to a range of learning materials to assist with student learning, e.g. textbooks (both print and digital), videos and other multimedia, scholarly or popular articles, book chapters, supplementary materials (like quiz and test questions, slide decks, and more), etc. While the preceding Campus Course Content group focused on a broad range of issues and put forward multiple recommendations, it became clear over time that any future efforts should align with the existing DiaLOG groups to provide coherent and system level solutions where appropriate.

In addition, Course Content (framed as Digital Content Solutions) is one of the core areas featured by Unizin. The University of Minnesota has been a member of the Unizin consortium since 2014. Unizin offers an inclusive access textbook program through the Engage platform, which includes learning analytics data as well as reduced pricing based on consortial contract negotiations with a range of publishers. Unizin also provides access to the Pressbooks platform for the publication of open textbooks and other learning materials by University of Minnesota faculty, staff, and students.

Purpose

The purpose of the DiaLOG Course Content Group is to develop a more thorough understanding of faculty practice and student needs related to course content in order to advance student access, accessibility, affordability, and learning; and to support instructors by providing coherent and efficient processes for content creation, selection, and integration.

Scope

The scope of the DiaLOG Course Content subgroup includes the increasingly complex course materials environment (including publishers, bookstores, libraries, open educational resources) and the existing and developing course content systems and policies that impact acquisition through dissemination (including the learning management system and key integrations that support access to course materials from a wide range of providers).

Charge

The DiaLOG Course Content subcommittee is charged to:

  • Gather information from faculty and students to further understand the strengths and weaknesses of the existing course content environment.
  • Analyze existing course content systems and practices and develop recommendations to improve timely access for students.
  • Provide direction regarding changes to existing course content systems and policies to provide seamless and easy to use systems for both faculty and students.
  • Provide guidance on the development or implementation of new course content systems.
  • Surface and manage issues related to course content access.
  • Provide outreach and education related to course content options and best practices that leverage affordability and accessibility.
  • Coordinate with other DiaLOG subgroups on issues that span the purview of more than one subgroup via the DiaLOG steering committee.

In its first year, the DiaLOG Course Content group will focus on:

Faculty Practice and the Student Experience

Gather additional information and data about:

  • faculty use of course content options,
  • student experiences with access (or lack of access) to course content via various course content options,
  • and barriers or problems encountered with course content options and the systems that support acquisition and dissemination.

As appropriate, make recommendations for tweaks and changes to existing systems to support seamless and easy use of the course content environments. Evaluate and make recommendations for long term changes to our systems that will improve faculty and student experiences in the course content environment.

Education and Communication

Based on the current and developing understanding of the faculty and student experience, identify key opportunities for outreach and education about the course content environment that improve access, accessibility, affordability, and learning. Several smaller working groups may be established to set specific goals, gather data and information, and create resources. Working groups may be composed of people beyond the committee as appropriate and will report back to the Course Content group.

Dependencies and Related Groups

  • Staff in the Bookstores, Libraries, ATSS, DRC, and CEI
  • Digital Learning Operational Governance groups (DiaLOG) - Learning Tools, Platform, and Learning Analytics
  • Academic unit and system campus IT and academic leadership
  • Senate Library Committee
  • Senate Committee on Information Technologies (SCIT)
  • Senate Committee on Educational Policy (SCEP)
  • Faculty Development for Online Teaching group
  • U of M Online Steering Committee
  • eLearning Support Network
  • Academic Technologies informal Community of Practice (ATiCOP)
  • Unizin Coordinating Committee
  • TeachingSupport@UMN
  • DiaLOG Steering Committee

Meeting Schedule

  • Once monthly – entire group
  • As needed for working groups

Sponsors

  • Emily Ronning, CLA, DiaLOG Steering Committee Co-Chair
  • Keith Brown, OIT, DiaLOG Steering Committee Co-Chair

Chairs

  • Jennifer Englund, Academic Technologist, Academic Technology Support Services, OIT
  • Kristi Jensen, Librarian, Research & Learning, University Libraries

Membership

  • Grace Atkins, Academic Technologist, LATIS, College of Liberal Arts
  • Adam Brisk, Academic Technologist, ITSS, University of Minnesota-Duluth
  • Amanda Chamberlain, Associate Director, Academic Technology & Design, College of Continuing and Professional Studies
  • Michelle Driessen, Professor, Chemistry Department, College of Sciences and Engineering
  • Katy Korchik, Academic Technologist, School of Public Health
  • Christopher Larson, University Bookstores/Aux/TC, Morris, Crookston, Rochester
  • Emily Larson, Financial Analyst, University Budget and Finance
  • Amy Limbybliw, Academic Technologist, Rothenberger Institute, School of Public Health
  • Nichole Chisholm, Assistant Librarian, University of Minnesota - Duluth
  • Mary Maronde, Technology Enhanced Learning Associate, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
  • Khaled Musa, Academic Technologist, Academic Technology Support Services, OIT
  • Treden Wagoner, Instructional Designer, College of Education and Human Development

Co-Chair Accountabilities

The co-chairs play an important role in coordinating group meetings and activities and have a responsibility to:

  • Manage meetings (schedule and communicate meeting logistics, prepare meeting agendas, assure appropriate meeting planning and follow-up, chair meetings).
  • Assure preparation of action plans and the completion of action items and project deliverables.
  • Keep group sponsors informed on progress and request meetings as needed.
  • Communicate and coordinate with partners and stakeholders.

Group Member Accountabilities

Each group member has a responsibility to:

  • Attend group meetings, actively participate in meetings, and promptly complete assignments.
  • Participate in framing up recommendations and prepare deliverables.
  • Provide representation for the member’s respective department as well as other groups to which the member belongs; solicit input and communicate information and feedback.
  • Work to ensure group effectiveness and adherence to committee ground rules
  • Support group decisions and actions.

Ground Rules

First and foremost, all group members will participate in a manner that embraces the spirit of the DiaLOG charter: finding and embracing the healthy tension that is inherent to our work, talking through the tension in order to understand the issues, making sure everyone is heard and understood, and then finding a way to move forward as a group.

  • Start on time and work to stay on schedule.
  • Come prepared. If you must miss a meeting, you are responsible for all information and assignments. Contact the chair.
  • Post the meeting notes within one week following the meeting.
  • Monitor digressions and refocus the discussion.
  • Handle disagreements. Poll other co-workers on controversial decisions. Treat all members with courtesy and respect – regardless of opinions.
  • Honor confidentiality if requested. Otherwise, communicate with staff.
  • Take issues that involve a few people or further investigation offline.

Last edited February 2021