Peer Online Course Review (POCR)

What is POCR?

The Peer Online Course Review (POCR) process is a free, online professional development opportunity for full-time and part-time faculty teaching online at Gavilan College. The program combines peer review with support from the Distance Education Department, providing faculty with constructive, supportive feedback from colleagues who understand online teaching and learning.

The goal is to support continuous improvement in online course design, strengthen student engagement and success, and help faculty create courses that meet established standards for quality online instruction.

As a participant in POCR, you receive:

• Confidential, positive, and constructive feedback and course design recommendations from fellow online faculty through a structured Peer Online Course Review process.

• Support from the Distance Education Team to help you implement recommendations and make effective use of Canvas tools and instructional technologies.

• Hands-on assistance, as needed, with course organization, instructional design, accessibility improvements, and alignment with the 2027 CVC Online Course Design Rubric.

• Guidance through the local review and submission process for a CVC Quality Reviewed (QR) Badge, which recognizes courses that meet the applicable CVC course design standards and supports visibility in the California Virtual Campus Exchange.

• The satisfaction of teaching an online course designed to support student engagement, equitable access, accessibility, meaningful interaction, and student success.

Why Align?

Aligning your course with the CVC Course Design Rubric supports effective online teaching practices and creates a more consistent, welcoming, and student-centered learning experience. Research on CVC Quality Reviewed courses has reported student success rates approximately 4.9 percentage points higher than the statewide average for online courses.

The 2027 CVC Online Course Design Rubric builds on established course design practices while placing greater emphasis on student-centered learning, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), equity and inclusion, accessibility, Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI), assessment practices, artificial intelligence (AI), and student privacy and security.

These elements help ensure that online courses are not simply organized and compliant, but intentionally designed to support the diverse needs and experiences of students.

Learn more about the 2027 rubric:

• What's New in the 2027 CVC Course Design Rubric
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
• Equity and Inclusion
• 2027 Rubric Transition Hub

What's Changing with the 2027 Rubric?

The 2027 CVC Online Course Design Rubric builds on the strengths of the previous rubric while addressing evolving expectations, technologies, and student needs. Key areas of emphasis include:

• Accessibility
• Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI)
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Privacy and Security
• Equity and Inclusion
• Student-Centered Design and Assessment

Accessibility is no longer a standalone scored section of the 2027 rubric, courses are still expected to meet accessibility requirements before entering formal review.

Faculty can use the optional Section 0: A Guided Pathway Through Course Design resource to prepare through backward design, course organization, accessibility planning, and remediation.

Important transition information: Fall 2026 through Fall 2027 is the transition period for the updated rubric. The 2027 CVC Online Course Design Rubric becomes the official standard for review and badging in Fall 2027. 

To qualify for the Gavilan College POCR process, courses must be:

• Fully online.
• Asynchronous (no hybrid courses or mandatory class meetings).
• Permanently approved through curriculum as an online course.
• Taught in Canvas for at least one semester.

The Gavilan POCR process is collaborative and designed to support faculty throughout course preparation, review, revision, and final submission.

• Attend a POCR Team orientation. Request an orientation by emailing disted@gavilan.edu.
• Submit a request to participate in course review by completing the POCR application form.
• Prepare your course for review. Organize your Canvas course, review course navigation, and address accessibility needs before beginning the formal review.
• Review the 2027 CVC Online Course Design Rubric and complete a preliminary self-assessment of your course design. During the transition period, consult with the Distance Education Team regarding the rubric being used for your review.
• Use the CVC Rubric Crosswalk to understand how the previous rubric elements compare with the updated 2027 standards.
• Once your course has been reviewed, meet with the Lead POCR Faculty Reviewer to discuss the review findings, recommendations, and revisions.
• Complete the recommended course revisions. This is the largest part of the course author's work. Meet with your Lead POCR Reviewer for guidance and support as needed.
• Make any necessary adjustments to align your course with the applicable CVC Online Course Design Rubric. Address accessibility, course organization, student engagement, interaction, assessment, and other relevant course design expectations.
• Submit your revised course for final review by the POCR Lead Reviewer.
• Submit your course through the local Peer Online Course Review process for consideration for a CVC Quality Reviewed (QR) Badge.

Faculty with courses that have already earned a Quality Reviewed Badge should consult with the Distance Education Team about the local transition process for alignment with the 2027 rubric and QR Badge 2.0.

Learn more about transitioning to QR Badge 2.0.

Are you ready to strengthen your online course and work toward earning a CVC Quality Reviewed Badge? Or are you interested in becoming a peer course reviewer and supporting your colleagues in developing high-quality online courses?

The Gavilan Distance Education Team welcomes faculty interested in participating as course authors or peer reviewers. POCR provides an opportunity to collaborate with colleagues, share effective online teaching practices, and contribute to the continued improvement of online education at Gavilan College.

To get started, please complete the POCR application form. The Distance Education Team will follow up by email with additional information and next steps.