Lawrence C. RaganPenn State’s World Campus

Defining Quality Defining Quality Standards for Online Standards for Online EducationEducation

CADE, CalgaryCADE, CalgaryMay 2002May 2002

Program GoalsProgram Goals• Discuss quality variables and Discuss quality variables and

their impact on the design and their impact on the design and development of online course development of online course instructioninstruction

• Review set of quality standards Review set of quality standards developed to guide the design, developed to guide the design, development and delivery of development and delivery of instruction onlineinstruction online

Assignment #1Assignment #1 Turn to Defining Quality and Turn to Defining Quality and

complete definitioncomplete definition Compare answer with partner at Compare answer with partner at

tabletable What was common in both What was common in both

definitions?definitions?

Defining QualityDefining Quality Writing by committee:Writing by committee:

An event or experience that provides An event or experience that provides a reasonable opportunity for success a reasonable opportunity for success for the student and instructorfor the student and instructor

Defining QualityDefining Quality Varied interpretations of “quality”Varied interpretations of “quality” Several industry-wide guidelines or Several industry-wide guidelines or

standards for production of course standards for production of course materials (CHEA, AAHE, others)materials (CHEA, AAHE, others)

Broad statements of principles and Broad statements of principles and guidelinesguidelines

Bottom LineBottom Line The definition of quality varies from The definition of quality varies from

institution to institution and is institution to institution and is dependent upon the mission and dependent upon the mission and model of the online initiative.model of the online initiative.

Assignment 2: Quality Assignment 2: Quality CharacteristicsCharacteristics To define quality we need to define To define quality we need to define

variablesvariables Turn to #2. Complete Quality Turn to #2. Complete Quality

Characteristics variable labelsCharacteristics variable labels Compare answer with partner at Compare answer with partner at

tabletable What variables were common in What variables were common in

both lists?both lists?

Quality CharacteristicsQuality Characteristics DependabilityDependability ReliabilityReliability Performance (speed)Performance (speed) ValueValue ConsistentConsistent MeasurableMeasurable Etc…Etc…

Quality Characteristics-NOT Quality Characteristics-NOT TechnologyTechnology CostCost AestheticAesthetic ““Gee whiz factor”Gee whiz factor”

Quality Standards-2 OptionsQuality Standards-2 Options Develop standards that can be used Develop standards that can be used

to judge the “readiness” of a to judge the “readiness” of a course/educational event for an course/educational event for an online delivery formatonline delivery format

Develop standards of design that can Develop standards of design that can serve as a specifications guideserve as a specifications guide

Difficult to do both in single Difficult to do both in single documentdocument

Considering ImplementationConsidering Implementation

Development of plans for Development of plans for implementationimplementation

Institutionalizing standardsInstitutionalizing standards Developing “failure to comply” Developing “failure to comply”

strategiesstrategies

WC Online Design StandardsWC Online Design Standards Struggle between specifications Struggle between specifications

document and “quality filter”document and “quality filter” Had to decide on “objective” of the Had to decide on “objective” of the

publicationpublication Opted for “quality filter’Opted for “quality filter’

Quality Filter DescribedQuality Filter Described Create an instrument that would Create an instrument that would

serve as a “readiness assessment serve as a “readiness assessment tool” for courses NOT designed or tool” for courses NOT designed or developed BUT to be delivered via developed BUT to be delivered via the World Campus.the World Campus.

Is not created as a design Is not created as a design specification documentspecification document

WC ODS CategoriesWC ODS Categories COURSE PROFILE TOOL: method COURSE PROFILE TOOL: method

of gathering demographic information of gathering demographic information regarding the nature of the courseregarding the nature of the course– Asynchronous vs synchronousAsynchronous vs synchronous– Nature of assignmentsNature of assignments– Timing and durationTiming and duration– Individual vs cohortIndividual vs cohort– Etc…Etc…

WC ODS CategoriesWC ODS Categories Review COURSE PROFILE TOOLReview COURSE PROFILE TOOL What questions would you add to make this work at What questions would you add to make this work at

your institution?your institution?– What platform for delivery? (browser)What platform for delivery? (browser)– Learner and setting analysis - target audience, student profileLearner and setting analysis - target audience, student profile– Special (#19) may not be specific enough - define general applicationsSpecial (#19) may not be specific enough - define general applications– Mission or objectives of course should be outlinedMission or objectives of course should be outlined– Computer literacy prerequisitesComputer literacy prerequisites– Availability of facultyAvailability of faculty– Practical applications - lab requirementsPractical applications - lab requirements– Nature and timing of examsNature and timing of exams– Group under location requirementsGroup under location requirements– Communication to student about how to startCommunication to student about how to start– Total instructional time to manage the courseTotal instructional time to manage the course

Online Design StandardsOnline Design Standards User InterfaceUser Interface: : issues of structure, navigation, and layoutissues of structure, navigation, and layout

Media ElementsMedia Elements:: issues related to the use of technologyissues related to the use of technology

SoftwareSoftware: issues related to the use of software and the : issues related to the use of software and the implications of its use in the courseimplications of its use in the course

Permissions/LegalPermissions/Legal: issues relating to the legality of : issues relating to the legality of course and related contentcourse and related content

AccessibilityAccessibility: issues related to the accessibility of the : issues related to the accessibility of the course to all studentscourse to all students

Media ElementsMedia Elements Appropriate use of mediaAppropriate use of media Variety of media mixVariety of media mix Considerate of student bandwidthConsiderate of student bandwidth Designed to support learning Designed to support learning

objectivesobjectives Considerate of development costsConsiderate of development costs

Instructional DesignInstructional Design Clear learning objectivesClear learning objectives Clear connection between learning Clear connection between learning

objectives and assessment processobjectives and assessment process Clearly articulated assessment Clearly articulated assessment

criteria and processcriteria and process Non-ambiguous use of languageNon-ambiguous use of language Appropriately designed learning Appropriately designed learning

activitiesactivities

SummarySummary Quality standards need to be defined Quality standards need to be defined

in the context of the institutionin the context of the institution Quality characteristics need to be Quality characteristics need to be

articulated (vary based on context)articulated (vary based on context) Need to define purpose of quality Need to define purpose of quality

standards: readiness or standards: readiness or specificationsspecifications

Define implementation planDefine implementation plan

Thank youThank you

Larry RaganLarry RaganLCR1@PSU.EDULCR1@PSU.EDU