Quality assurance for e-learning

Dr Tim Brown

(formerly) Deputy Director,

Validation Services, Open University

UK

The quality tripod

Curriculum and course design

Course delivery, learning and assessment Includes student support, VLE and learning

resources, staff resources and staff support, and student progress and achievement

Quality management, reporting and enhancement

Curriculum and course design

Conformity to qualification frameworks, subject benchmarks, codes of practice, etc.

Learning outcomes – need to be clear to all Knowledge, understanding and skills – both subject

specific and transferable Be clear about the role of e-learning in a blended

context Be clear about general educational outcomes such as

breadth of perception, critical reflection and independent judgement, team-working, etc.

Flexibility – time, place and pace. Needs sensitivity Active learning, interactivity and feedback

Course delivery, learning, and assessment

Admission, induction and guidance Learning resources

The VLE, libraries and resource centres Tutor/mentor support, administrative and

technical support, help-desk Academic community, interaction Student assignments, formative

assessment and feedback Summative assessment and examinations,

security issues

Summative assessment

Procedures need to be: Explicit, Fair, Valid, Reliable, Plural

Judgements need to be exercised collectively, as far as possible

Effective procedures in place to avoid cheating – plagiarism and impersonation

Quality management and enhancement

Clear structures, processes and responsibilities Statistics and performance indicators Critical analysis

Feedback – from students, staff, examiners, employers, and other stakeholders. External review

Reflection, evaluation on a regular basis Quality enhancement

Course/programme changes, design & delivery Staff induction, training, appraisal Staff development and research Action plans and targets