Who is Instructional Connections,
Inc.?
Instructional
Connections, Inc. (IC) is an independent, integrated service
provider of high quality instructional support services to colleges
and universities that offer online courses and degree programs.
Instructional Connections specializes in "connecting" Academic
Coaches (also known as “Teaching Assistants” and “Instructional
Associates”) to institutions that offer high growth online programs
with a highly effective and scalable instructional model.
What does Instructional Connections
do?
Instructional Connections provides ongoing support to university partners using Academic Coaches, Coordinating Academic Coaches, and Lead Academic Coaches. This support includes, but is not limited to the following:
Supporting faculty in live courses.
Providing Academic Coach transcripts and resumes (AKA
“credentials”) to universities for purposes of accreditation.
Providing accreditation visit support.
Maintain records and documents.
Evaluate Academic Coach Performance.
Provide reports as requested by each university.
Provide minutes of Weekly Conference Calls
Work in close concert with university leaders, faculty, and
program administration on student-related issues.
What is an Academic Coach?
An Academic
Coach is a highly qualified individual who possesses a strong
educational, instructional, and leadership background, bringing
value to the overall student learning experience. They help students
make connections with their learning, increase depth and complexity
in the discussion forum, and encourage students as they progress
through the program. The exact qualifications and requirements of an
Academic Coach are tailored according to individual program and
course needs. Often the
Academic Coach is the student's initial point of contact, and acts
in much the same fashion that a traditional teaching assistant does
in an on-campus program.
How do the Academic Coach,
Coordinating Academic Coach, and Lead Academic Coach function in the
University’s Academic Partnership Program?
An
Academic Coach focuses on
enhancing students’ success and retention by minimizing student
isolation and increasing and promoting opportunities for
collaboration, communication, and accountability. The Academic
Coaches understand the need for fostering positive, meaningful
affective and professional relationships with students. Students in
return feel connected to the program because they are connected to
their Academic Coach. The coaches work collaboratively to reinforce
the faculty’s academic goals and learning objectives.
The
Coordinating Academic Coach
serves as point of primary interaction with the Professor.
Some of the
points of interaction:
Clarification of Professor's course
policies
Coordination of multiple coaches' work
Check on inter-rater reliability in
rubric grading
Review of student performance in both
discussions and assessments
The
Coordinating Academic Coach is responsible for insuring that
interactions between Academic Coaches and the Professor occurs and
for recording decisions or action items that may emerge.
Assignment of a Coordinating
Academic Coach is based on the number of students and Academic
Coaches in a course. The Coordinating Academic Coach reports to the
Lead Academic Coach.
The
Lead Academic Coach
position is pivotal to the delivery of courses and serves as a
"working manager." The
Lead Academic Coach most frequently interacts with the academic
leadership of a program but also is available to faculty members. If
there is not a designated Coordinating Academic Coach for a course,
the Lead Academic Coach assumes the role and responsibilities of a
Coordinating Academic Coach for that course.
How are Academic Coaches recruited,
hired, trained and assigned?
The
university’s program coordinators and faculty establish the
qualifications for the Academic Coaches in each course.
Based on the identified qualifications, IC posts a national
Job Posting for the position; however, IC can focus regionally or
within tight niche populations of applicants, depending on the needs
of each program and course.
Each applicant
is reviewed to match the qualifications to the program and/or
course. Once an applicant is deemed a match to the program and/or
course requirement, a Background Check is performed on the
candidate.
Concurrently, the candidate is enrolled into “Academic Coach
Training.” The
candidate commits 4-6 hours to
completing the online training program over one week. Training
includes introduction to the learning management system (LMS), basic
principles of online education, and detailed information regarding
the role and expectations of an Academic Coach.
Upon successful
competition of the training (active participation and working
through all five modules), the candidate is advanced to the
contracting phase. The
contract is dependent on the success of the background check and
training. Once the
on-boarding phase is complete, the individual is added to the pool
of screened and qualified Academic Coaches ready for an assignment.
The Lead
Academic Coach reviews the qualifications of all Academic Coaches
and makes recommendations to the Program Administration and/or
Faculty for assignment to a course.
The Program Administrator and/or Faculty will approve or
decline the candidate.
If a candidate is declined, feedback is provided to the Lead
Academic Coach and IC Recruiting Staff as to the reasons for denial.
When an
Academic Coach is approved for a program and/or course, the Lead and
Coordinating Academic Coach guide the new Academic Coach through an
orientation of the university, program and course.
In addition, the Academic Coach is enrolled into an “IC
Orientation” that details the roles and responsibilities, how to
navigate the LMS, and provides ongoing resources for the Academic
Coach throughout the duration of the course.
What steps are taken to ensure and
verify the Faculty of Record retains control of the course and
program?
The Faculty of
Record provides clear expectations for the Academic Coach to respond
to students, grade assignments, and preferred method to communicate
with faculty. This is primarily handled through a Pre-Course
Conference Call in which the Academic Coaches and Faculty review the
course, syllabus, assignments, and outcomes.
This is maintained throughout the course during the Weekly
Conference Calls with Faculty and Academic Coach.
During the weekly calls, the Faculty and Academic Coaches
discuss any student issues, upcoming assignments, changes in the
course, and the Faculty expectations.
What measures does IC have in place
to ensure quality services are provided?
Instructional
Connection’s quality assurance program is consistent with
University’s commitment to provide a high quality educational
experience. Academic Coaches follow all guidance and direction from
assigned faculty members. At the end of each course, IC obtains
faculty feedback on the Academic Coaches assigned to the faculty’s
course. In addition, Lead Academic Coaches evaluate Academic Coach
activities during each course including the Academic Coach’s
responsiveness to feedback. If IC is notified of a concern from
either faculty or administrators about an Academic Coach’s
performance, IC’s administrative personnel investigate and take
action as appropriate, up to and including removal of the Academic
Coach from the course and/or program.
What contingency plan does IC have
to ensure that students are not impacted due to unforeseen
circumstances?
Instructional
Connections’ leaders have experience dealing with regional disasters
and maintain contingency plans to employ in case of disasters and
emergencies. If needed, IC will work with the university’s
administrative and instructional leaders to assist in implementing
and supporting the university’s contingency/disaster recovery plan
and university policies.
In the event an
Academic Coach is unable to continue in a course, the Lead Academic
Coach, Coordinating Academic Coach or other Academic Coach(s)
assigned to the course will be assigned to the students previously
handled by the departing Academic Coach.
In the event of a temporary
inability to access the online course by an Academic Coach, the Lead
Academic Coach or Coordinating Academic Coach will handle the
Academic Coach’s duties until access is restored.