Peer Online Course Review (POCR)

The Peer Online Course Review (POCR) process is a supportive peer-to-peer experience that uses the CVC-OEI Course Design Rubric to improve the design of Canvas shells for optimal student learning and experience. 

Your peer reviewer will be an SMC faculty member from another department who will use the rubric to help you align your course to evidence-based practices in distance education.

The POCR process is not related to official evaluations or tenure review, but rather a friendly, supportive way to receive feedback on your Canvas shell design in a way that respects signature pedagogies of disciplines and instructors' personal styles. 

Benefits for faculty:

• advice and support on effective, equitable online teaching and course design
• meet new colleagues and a community of support
• a small stipend ($715)
• course earns POCR badge on California Virtual Campus course exchange

The review process happens over an academic year.

Fall

• by end of Week 2: participants express interest

• by end of Week 3: selection of participants via intake form 

• by end of Week 5: self-evaluation complete and Canvas shell uploaded

• by end of Week 10: initial peer and accessibility reviews and meetings complete

• remainder of Fall: participants start making changes to shell

Winter 

• Winter Institute (optional) - participants can attend, reviewers might offer instruction

• participants continue making changes to shell

Spring

• by end of Week 8: participants complete changes

• by end of Week 12: final peer and accessibility reviews and meetings

• by end of semester: final lead reviews

POCR is for instructors who

• teach online or hybrid classes (we don't review Canvas shells for on-ground classes)
• have participated in training on how to teach online (e.g. SMC's Online Teaching and Design (OTD) class, an @One class, or equivalent)
• have a "student-ready" Canvas shell ready for review

It's easy to apply! Simply complete this form by the end of Week 2. 

"The heart and soul of this training are undeniably the POCR reviewers. From day one, they exhibited a commitment to genuinely guide and enhance the educational journey. The POCR process with SMC was not just a standard review, but a holistic educational experience. Thanks to the unwavering support, information, and guidance from the POCR reviewers, I feel more equipped than ever to deliver high-quality education to my students."

Dr. Amy Andrada, Sociology

“The POCR was a lifeline for me as I developed a new hybrid class for the fall of 2020. My experience with Canvas was limited, and it was hard to know if my ideas for assignments were coalescing into a legitimate course offering. My reviewer nonjudgmentally offered insights on matters big and small AND there were follow up activities to make sure I confronted and resolved the issues we discussed.” - Janine Poreba, ESL

• CVC-OEI rubric
• Become a reviewer
• For more information, please contact Joelle Adams and/or Gary Huff, your SMC POCR Leads