Instructional Connections’ online education model stems from research and experience. Our process follows the successful steps we have created over years of work by listening to the needs of our university partners and growing in our data-driven tactics.
Step 1: Understanding Your Distance Learning Needs
First, we work to fully and deeply understand what each college or university needs relative to instructional support. We strive to understand all missions that each school desires through in-depth meetings before we get started.
A strong foundation is the start of every lasting partnership.
Step 2: Recruiting Your Virtual TAs
Second, we recruit, screen, pre-qualify and present Academic Coach candidates (AKA Virtual Teaching Assistants or Virtual TAs) to our university and college clients.
Each candidate has been thoroughly vetted and is available in our extensive pool for approval by our university partners.
Step 3: Assigning Your Virtual Teaching Assistants
Next, we assign your Academic Coaches and other necessary support staff to the correct online courses and programs. We understand and listen to each university, college, and course-specific request to create the most successful distance learning environment.
We understand the hurdles and benefits that online programs and distance learning have and that is why we work hard to help each client manage their distance learning courses in whatever way they want for optimal student success.
Step 4: Personalized Training for Each Virtual TA
We fully train each candidate per your learning management systems in order to orient your Virtual TA to courses, your distance learning programs, and your expectations. Additionally, we are happy to work closely with faculty on the best practices and uses of their Virtual Teaching Assistants.
We want our partners to understand our model, and for us to understand each course objective and preferred outcome.
Step 5: Organization & Accountability for High Quality Service
We independently contract, manage, and pay the Virtual TAs, handling all organization of staffing provided in order to fulfill the service needs on behalf of you, our university partners. This eliminates you from needing additional human resources and payroll programming or training hours.
We do this to ensure accountability by having in-house supportive leadership staff who work directly with both your administration and faculty and your Virtual TAs. By meeting with faculty, we can meet and exceed expectations, rubric, and course goals.
We strive to surpass expectations through both our services and our Virtual Teaching Assistants’ service.
Our Online Education Model Is Built on Communication, Making Sure You Are in Control of Your Distance Learning
Each faculty member of record that teaches an online course is able to provide clear expectations to their approved and assigned Academic Coach, and they can update these needs throughout the course. In fact, most faculty members continually think of new and better methods to help educate students through distance learning.
This means that every area of support from an Academic Coach can be decided by the faculty, so you stay in complete control. The needs in different courses may vary depending on the faculty’s needs, expectations, class size, assignments, level, and more.
Our Online Education Model offers a level of flexibility that allows for complete control of online program management to still be held by your faculty.
We Are Committed to Quality & Accreditation
Programmatic and institutional accreditation, program guidelines, and policies are sacrosanct. Instructional Connections’ quality assurance program cares about fully meeting and matching our partners’ needs with our services. Our commitment is consistent with that of our university partners’ in providing the highest levels of education to each and every student.
At the end of every online or distance learning course, we solicit feedback regarding the Academic Coaches’ work to improve the course experience. And in the rare event that a problem arises with an Academic Coach, Instructional Connections immediately investigates and takes action. We do all things in accordance with faculty and university concerns.
