The formal online course development process is connected to a stipend that is initiated, approved, and paid for through college chairs and deans.
WMUx Instructional Services
Contents
WMUx offers services to the campus community in each of the following areas:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.