Award Winner Cheryl Oberlin Talks About Collaboration and Challenges in Online Instructional Design
Cheryl Oberlin felt a mixture of gratitude and humility when she first learned she had received the Quality Matters Outstanding Impact by an Individual in Higher Education Award in late 2024.
Cheryl Oberlin felt a mixture of gratitude and humility when she first learned she had received the Quality Matters Outstanding Impact by an Individual in Higher Education Award in late 2024.
The director of Distance Learning and Training for the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UF CJC) also quickly wanted to share the accomplishment with her team.
“I was incredibly honored and humbled to receive this recognition from Quality Matters. Promoting quality in online education has always been a passion of mine, and knowing that my contributions have made a tangible impact on student success is deeply gratifying,” Oberlin said in a recent interview.
“This award reflects not just my work but the collaborative efforts of my team of instructional designers who share the same commitment to continuous improvement in online learning.”
The award, which celebrates significant contributions to quality assurance in online education, marks a highlight in Oberlin’s career. It also signifies her strong commitment to innovation and collaboration as she continues to focus on improving the online learning experience.
A Passion for Making Higher Education Available to More Students
Oberlin has two decades of experience in higher education. She has earned a Master of Education in Educational/Instructional Technology, an MBA in Project Management, and an MA in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition. She also has master’s certificates in Project Management and Instructional Design for Digital Learning.
Oberlin says her passion for making quality higher education opportunities readily available has propelled her career.
“I am deeply passionate about expanding access to high-quality education and ensuring that online students receive the same level of engagement, support, and rigor as their on-campus counterparts,” Oberlin said.
She added that online learning “has the power to transform lives. My goal is to make that experience as enriching and effective as possible. Seeing students succeed in well-designed courses reinforces my dedication to this work.”
That dedication is something Quality Matters (QM) highlighted in awarding Oberlin. They specifically noted her “exemplary commitment to online quality” in spearheading the creation of a new instructional design division at UF CJC focused on course quality.
Her efforts have been key to getting QM Certification for the college’s courses by meeting QM Standards in a Course Review for Certification.
QM notes that students in the college have access to trackable learning outcomes, improved assignment directions and rubrics and uniform courses “built on a strong template.” They also note that graduation and faculty performance scores have both improved.
A List of Projects and the Power of Collaboration
Oberlin shared some of the initiatives she has led throughout her career to improve online course design, accessibility, and student engagement.
First on her list is the implementation of UF CJC’s distance education division-wide QM standards. They ensure all online courses meet rigorous quality benchmarks. “And I’m happy to say 100% of our online graduate courses are QM-certified,” Oberlin said.
Other projects listed by Oberlin include:
- Developing faculty onboarding and training programs that instill best practices in online andragogy, accessibility, and learner engagement.
- Providing her instructional design team autonomy as they design and redesign courses.
- Launching quality review initiatives that involve faculty peer review and continuous course improvement cycles.
Oberlin calls collaboration “the cornerstone of quality online learning.”
As an example, she talked about a current cross-departmental initiative with UF’s Center for Innovation and Production (COIP). The focus is on redesigning online undergraduate courses to meet the same QM standards as the online master’s program.
Oberlin said her team has started working closely with COIP’s team to create or refresh courses. The project also requires collaboration with instructional designers and engaging students in survey feedback sessions.
Oberlin said a similar project in UF CJC online graduate programs resulted in a 25% increase in the student course completion rate. “We aim to have the same kind of success with this new project,” Oberlin said.
The Challenges in Improving the Quality of Online Learning
Oberlin said UF CJC has built an instructional design team that has become “an award-winning powerhouse.”
“Starting with a strategic vision, we carefully recruited top talent, developed robust processes, and implemented industry best practices to create engaging, high-quality learning experiences,” Oberlin said.
“Through collaboration with faculty, continuous professional development, and a commitment to innovation, our team has enhanced course design and established a reputation for leadership in instructional technology.”
Still, she has faced challenges. Oberlin said one of the biggest is fostering buy-in. “Some educators may initially see quality standards as restrictive rather than supportive,” Oberlin said.
To combat this, she focuses on providing development opportunities that teach faculty the best practices for online course design and teaching. She also uses data-driven results to show how QM-aligned courses improve student satisfaction, retention, and learning outcomes.
Advice on How to Approach Improving the Quality of Online Programs
Asked about advice she would give others on improving the online experience, Oberlin talked about prioritizing the student experience and the need to ”design courses with the student in mind and ensure clarity in structure, expectations and engagement opportunities.”
She then discussed the importance of adopting a quality assurance framework and investing in training and instructional support. She also advised schools to use data and feedback to drive continuous improvement.
It also helps, she said, to “build a rockstar instructional design team that enjoys collaboration and is dedicated to helping students and faculty.”
Oberlin listed the following when defining a high-quality learning experience.
- Student-centered. Providing clear, measurable learning objectives, engaging content, and opportunities for interaction with instructors, peers and content.
- Accessible and inclusive. Ensuring that all students, regardless of ability, can fully participate.
- Well-structured and easy to navigate. Reducing cognitive load and enhancing the learning experience.
- Engaging and interactive. Incorporating multimedia, harmonizing discussions, and active learning strategies.
- Data-informed. Using learning analytics and feedback to refine course effectiveness continually.
Staying Current in a Changing Field
Already an award-winner, Oberlin doesn’t plan to slow her efforts. She stays active in professional development by attending conferences and webinars about online learning, and participating in QM professional development (Oberlin is also a QM master reviewer).
She also networks with peers and explores emerging technologies such as AI learning tools, virtual reality and adaptive learning systems. She has many goals for the future.
“I aim to cultivate our cross-campus partnerships while creating high-quality courses for the UF Online courses at the College of Journalism and Communications,” she said. She also plans to advocate for continued investment in online learning quality and to mentor and support faculty in designing courses.
“Online education continues to evolve rapidly, ensuring quality and student-centered design are top priorities,” she said. “This award reflects my individual efforts and the collective commitment of UF CJC educators and instructional designers who are working daily to create better online learning experiences.”
Posted: April 30, 2025
Category: UF CJC Online Blog, UF CJC Online Profiles
Tagged as: cheryl oberlin, instructional design
