quality considerations in elearning

Quality Issues in eLearning

Greig Krull

eLearning and Technology Summit16 October 2014Indaba Hotel, Fourways

Context

Defined policies & procedures to

ensure quality of traditional courses…

Quality assurance often afterthought to convert existing courses for online delivery…

eLearning has a perception of being inferior quality to

traditional learning

Dr Neil Clifton [CC-BY] http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2326197

Quality Assurance Process

Institutional Approval

Developer Self-Reflection

Peer Review

Subject Matter Expert Review

Technology Review

External Benchmarking

Programme Design

Student Recruitment and Admission

Staffing

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Assessment

Library Services

Administrative Services

Coordination

Quality Criteria

South African Council on Higher Education (2004)

1

2

8

3

5

7

4

6

1. Programme Design

Economics student enrols for course with only one 20 year old textbook

and is required download own resources

Browning [CC-BY-NC] https://www.flickr.com/photos/smichael/4563914649

• ICT is appropriate • Include digital

resources• Alternative online /

offline access

2. Student Recruitment and Admission

A Geography student only finds out when she starts the course that she needs a laptop and needs to be online at least an hour a

day

JISC CC-BY-NC-ND http://www.jisc.ac.uk/events

• Communicate technology requirements up front

• Consider cost and access

3. Staffing

A Senior Professor asks the secretary to go online and

print out assignments to mark

• Shift in mindset• Professional Development• Administrative & support staff• Using technology for teaching

4. Teaching & Learning Strategy

A student receives all her materials on a

flash disk and is told to go study and submit the assignments end

of term

Image: Vanguard Visions [CC-BY]

• Orientation to technology• Technical support• Regular engagement and

interaction

5. Assessment

Accounting students have one online multiple

choice test that does not count and a MCQ

examination that counts 100%

• Online submission, marking & return processes

• Variety of e-assessment• Reliability and security• Regular formative assessment• Feedback

Qperello [CC-BY] http://www.flickr.com/photos/albertogp123/5843577306/

6. Library Services

Nursing student needs access to a physical

textbook at the library but student is working full

time

ParentingPatch [CC-BY-SA] http://www.flickr.com/photos/albertogp123/5843577306/

• Access to ICT outside of class times

• Wider access to e-resources• Develop information literacy

7. Administrative When 2000 first year

students try to submit their assignments, the

LMS crashes

Pimenta [CC-BY-SA] https://www.flickr.com/photos/guspim/2280690094/

• Online Support Services• Robust data systems• Learning Analytics

8. Coordination

A first year course enrols 2000 students but only employs 2

tutors

• Alignment to organisational strategy

• ICT Budget• Online Tutors

JuditK [CC-BY-ND] https://www.flickr.com/photos/juditk/8973427921/

Programme Design

Student Recruitment and Admission

Staffing

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Assessment

Library Services

Administrative Services

Coordination

Quality Criteria

South African Council on Higher Education (2004)

1

2

8

3

5

7

4

6

Platforms

Content Curation

Polls / Quizzes

Collabora-tion

Blog & Microblog

Social Networks

Multi-media

Sharing

Virtual Meeting Rooms

Free / Open Source Learning Tools

Adapted from: Cavazza, Social Media Landscape [CC-BY-NC-SA]

ICT Infra-structure & applications

Connectivity / Internet Access

Course & Materials Develop

(Open) Licencing of Materials/ Resources

Capacity Building

Quality Assurance

Change Manage-

ment

Success FactorsIn alignment with: Vision / MissionStrategic Plan

How do you ensure quality in your own courses and materials?

Thank You!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

greigk@saide.org.za

greigk_za

Greig Krull

References

• CHE (2014) Distance Higher Education Programmes in a Digital Era: Good Practice Guide

• CHE (2004) Criteria for Programme Accreditation • Saide (2014) Course Quality Evaluation Instrument