quality issues in elearning
DESCRIPTION
Quality Issues in eLearning in South Africa. Presented at eLearning Summit, Indaba Hotel, 16 October 2014. Discusses quality review processes, and quality criteria considerations.TRANSCRIPT
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_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