This section presents the Subject Matter Expert model for online courses at KYSU Online. It explains how the SME’s duties relate to different phases of an online course lifecycle. SMEs are integral to the development and redevelopment of online courses; they maintain the primary course shell of online courses; they are responsible for coordinating textbook updates; and they engage with online instructors to drive continuous improvement of online courses.
Since online courses are delivered entirely through the Learning Management System, and since students engage the content asynchronously, the content within the LMS essentially stands in place of the instructional content represented by lectures in a traditional/residential course. Therefore, apart from regular face-to-face interaction with faculty in a classroom setting, students must encounter a well-designed, easy-to-navigate online course that facilitates their learning. Developing an effective online course is time-consuming and requires more advanced proficiency with the LMS. When multiple sections of the same online course are needed, the student experience can vary greatly depending on the ability of the instructional designer and the amount of time allocated to developing the course in the LMS.
KYSU Online aims to deliver a consistent educational experience to students in different online sections of the same course. Their experience should also remain consistent from term to term, as the general layout and elements of various online courses should be familiar. Moreover, there should be consistency (or parity) between online and residential versions of the same class. A consistent student experience will also reduce the burden on faculty to assist students in locating instructional content within the LMS.
Toward this end, KYSU Online will implement a Subject Matter Expert (SME) model in its online programs. The SME model is an approach to differentiating the roles of online faculty in developing and maintaining the content of online courses; it ensures consistency across multiple sections of an online course. This model positions KYSU Online to implement standards of consistent instructional design while minimizing the burden on faculty to become instructional designers. This model also supports assessment and accreditation reporting.
The SME model is a more formal approach to the traditional, informal collaboration among faculty members in a department who teach sections of the same course in a residential setting.
The point is that faculty in traditional residential programs often collaborate on courses to meet the needs of the students and the department.
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