WMU instructor looking at a computer

Market Research and Strategy

Market Research and Strategy

Find data-backed opportunities without getting lost in the research. WMUx's Market Research team will work with you to develop and implement a custom research plan and strategy based on the insights you're looking for. Market Research can help you find opportunities to innovate or improve your course offerings. We can also save you time and energy by using our extensive knowledge of market trends and analysis strategies to get you the information you need to answer critical questions and make informed decisions. We combine your knowledge with our expertise to take your project to the next level at every stage.

Learn more and explore our services  

Professional Coaching

Professional Coaching

Many of us have served as mentors to students or have been mentored by senior colleagues; mentoring is typically a hierarchical arrangement where an experienced professional helps a less experienced one develop skills in a particular field.

Professional consultations, as the WMUx Office of Faculty Development practices them, have more in common with coaching: the coach may not be a content expert in the faculty, staff, or graduate student's field, but they are available to listen, brainstorm solutions, and offer resources to help navigate the next steps in their careers.

If you would like to work through a career decision, figure out a new direction for your research or teaching, or would like to set goals for a project, don't hesitate to reach out and schedule a confidential professional consultation with WMUx's Office of Faculty Development.

Contact the WMUx Office of Faculty Development  

Teaching and Learning Consultations

Teaching and Learning Consultations

Our goal is to collaborate with you to imagine, design, and develop engaging and effective learning experiences. Do you wish you could do something differently? Do you imagine there must be a better way? Unsure of how to take a great course activity and translate that to another modality? We are here for those discussions. Meet with a member of our instructional support team in a one-on-one or group setting to explore best practices in teaching and learning. We will review instructional materials, discuss different ideas for delivery, and explore how you can revisit or redesign activities or a whole course. We will talk about pedagogy, organization, and design, and guide you through integrating new and effective technologies into your work. You are not an island, and we look forward to collaborating with you on the next iteration of your learning experience – whatever the modality.

Schedule a consultation today  

Learning Experience Observations

Learning Experience Observations

Are you trying something new and want us to be there to collaborate, observe and reflect? Are you working with an instructional designer on an activity and want to have more input on how that might connect to an upcoming lesson or activity? Or maybe you are doing something related to teaching and learning in your course that you would like us to help you spread the word about. Members of our instructional support team would be delighted to sit in on an activity or other learning experience and offer their insights, support, and strategies to bolster your success. Reach out to connect with a member of our team to get started.

Schedule an observation  

Instructional Design

Instructional Design

Our instructional design team is here to collaborate with you to create quality learning experiences. Our goal is to make teaching and learning an engaging and effective experience for all involved by providing ongoing support in the form of training, professional development, and consultations to both individuals and small groups for the development of learning experiences in any modality.

Contact an instructional designer  

Video of WMUx in Action - Sandy Vamos

Course Development

Video of WMUx in Action - Dane Alexander

Course Development

We have three main options for course development:

  • Formal online course development

    The formal online course development process is connected to a stipend that is initiated, approved, and paid for through college chairs and deans.

  • Informal course development

    Our informal process for course design is a bit more flexible than the formal process, though it does follow the same general steps as the formal process. Our instructional support team works with you to think through your course or learning experience from start to finish, beginning with the end in mind as we work together to align objectives and outcomes with assessments and activities. We begin with ideation – so we have the same idea of where we are headed – then we collaborate and share ideas to think through the basic overview and benchmarks of the course. Next, we intentionally work through the finer details and think through more of the individual learning experiences as we move toward the assembly of the course. Finally, we review the course individually and then meet to discuss it before the course goes live. After the course has been taught to students, we'll meet again to iterate and assess the process.

  • Course redesign/iteration

    The redesign/iteration process includes both a self-review and consultation. The course instructor and a member of the instructional support team will both complete a checklist regarding an existing course and meet to explore ideas on a redesign. The instructor can bring student feedback they have gathered or personal reflections to inform areas to change for the next run of the course. Instructors may also engage with a redesign/iteration process to intentionally address moving certain class sessions from one modality to another, such as flipped classroom, hybrid, or other flexible modalities.

All three options facilitate the creation of quality learning experiences and are designed to ensure that instructors have the support they need. The process begins with collaborative ideation and ends with a plan for iteration.

Start your plan today  

 

Instructional Technology and Elearning Support

Instructional Technology and Elearning Support

Technology can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. We are here to help. The Instructional Technology Center (ITC) offers in-person and virtual support to guide you through troubleshooting technological questions related to the Learning Management System (LMS) and WMU Essential Studies (WES). We can also assist with building LMS content for you as well as show you how to navigate Mediasite, iClicker, publisher content and any other LMS tools. Don't let your frustration get the better of you – use your time wisely and contact us today.

Email or call during our live support hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with one of our experts. The ITC is part of the Educational Technology unit of WMUx and is located on the second floor of the University Computing Center, room 2011.

Accessibility Support

Video of WMUx in Action - Suzan Ayers

Accessibility Support

As an instructor, you want to ensure that the online content you provide is consistent with the law and the University's commitment to digital accessibility. Our WMUx Web Accessibility Coordinator provides guidance, recommends solutions, and can help you implement and oversee emerging technologies that ensure compliance and champion accessibility.

While several step-by-step guides exist, we can provide additional support services that include:

  • Developing goals and strategic planning support for accessibility initiatives
  • Accessibility consultation and content evaluations for department or individual courses
  • Evaluating and providing recommendations related to proposed accessible student-facing technologies and their use
  • Coordinating and facilitating trainings and resources for staff and faculty on the effective use of emerging accessibility technologies
  • Media captioning and transcription services
  • Conversion and remediation of digital content into accessible and alternative formats

Captioning and Transcription Services

Western Michigan University is committed to accessibility in our online and Elearning course content for all students.  In compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 and WMU's Accessibility Guidelines, all faculty and instructional staff are asked to provide text alternatives to all non-text content being utilized in your course materials.

Request video captions or transcripts

If you or your department would like additional support related to digital accessibility, please contact us.