Quality Considerations in eLearning in South Africa. Presentation at the eLearning Summit, Indaba Hotel, 16 October 2014. Looks the the quality review process and quality criteria.
1. Quality Issues in eLearning
Greig Krull
eLearning and Technology Summit
16 October 2014
Indaba Hotel, Fourways
2. 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
4. Quality Criteria
Programme Design
Student Recruitment and Admission
Staffing
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Assessment
Library Services
Administrative Services
Coordination
1
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5
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8
South African Council on Higher Education (2004)
5. 1. Programme Design
Economics student enrols for course
with only one 20 year old textbook
and is required download own
resources
• ICT is appropriate
• Include digital
resources
• Alternative online /
offline access
Browning [CC-BY-NC] https://www.flickr.com/photos/smichael/4563914649
6. 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
• Communicate
technology
requirements up front
• Consider cost and access
JISC CC-BY-NC-ND http://www.jisc.ac.uk/events
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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/
10. 6. Library Services
Nursing student needs
access to a physical
textbook at the library
but student is working full
time
• Access to ICT outside of class
times
• Wider access to e-resources
• Develop information literacy
ParentingPatch [CC-BY-SA] http://www.flickr.com/photos/albertogp123/5843577306/
11. 7. Administrative
When 2000 first year
students try to submit
their assignments, the
LMS crashes
• Online Support Services
• Robust data systems
• Learning Analytics
Pimenta [CC-BY-SA] https://www.flickr.com/photos/guspim/2280690094/
12. 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/
13. Quality Criteria
Programme Design
Student Recruitment and Admission
Staffing
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Assessment
Library Services
Administrative Services
Coordination
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
South African Council on Higher Education (2004)
14. Platforms
Content
Curation
Polls /
Quizzes
Free / Open Source
Collabora-tion
Blog &
Microblog
Multi-media
Virtual
Meeting
Rooms
Sharing
Social
Networks
Learning Tools
Adapted from: Cavazza, Social Media Landscape [CC-BY-NC-SA]
15. ICT Infra-structure
&
applications
Connectivity /
Internet
Access
Course &
Materials
Develop
Change
Manage-ment
(Open)
Licencing of
Materials/
Resources
Quality
Assurance
Capacity
Building
Success Factors
In alignment with:
Vision / Mission
Strategic Plan
16. How do you ensure quality in your own
courses and materials?
17. Thank You!
greigk@saide.org.za
greigk_za
Greig Krull
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
18. 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
Notas do Editor
Image: “Charterhouse campus of St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College” Dr Neil Clifton [CC-BY] http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2326197
ICT selected is appropriate to student circumstances and needs and teaching methods - Learner profile most important
Resources include digital resources and OER
Students have alternative online / offline access options
Technology requirements communicated and verified before admission
Responsible advertising of costs of technology
Capacity building in designing and developing online materials and online course delivery
Orientation and professional development
Administrative staff for managing backups, internet access etc
Tutor to learner ratio
Multiple forms of comms: Telephone, email, skype, twitter
Not just how to use the technology – but how to use it in teaching.
Clear what technology is used and how it is used to support teaching and learning
Staff and students oriented in how to use the technology
Staff and students have access to appropriate technologies
Technical support to students in timely manner
Image: “Flipped Learning Design in VET” Vanguard Visions [CC-BY] https://www.flickr.com/photos/77018488@N03/9315194075/
Processes for online submission, marking, data capture & return with feedback
Systems to ensure reliability & security of online assessment system
Processes/tools to counter plagiarism
Formative assessment is important
Image: “Exam” Alberto Qperello [CC-BY] http://www.flickr.com/photos/albertogp123/5843577306/
Access to ICT infrastructure also outside of working hours
Access to wider electronic resources (online or CD/Flash)
Support to develop information literacy skills to use resources
Image: “Shelves of Language Books in Library” ParentingPatch [CC-BY-SA] http://www.flickr.com/photos/albertogp123/5843577306
Online Support Services e.g. forums, helpdesk
Data management systems are robust and secure
Track student progress, to identify & support students at-risk & to provide data to inform programme review
Image: “ 404 Error”G Pimenta [CC-BY-SA] https://www.flickr.com/photos/guspim/2280690094/
Require a budget for maintaining and upgrading the appropriate technology
Regular review of the strategic and operational plans for use of educational technology to evaluate progress
eTutors
Image: “iDevices” JuditK [CC-BY-ND] https://www.flickr.com/photos/juditk/8973427921/
Image: Adapted from: Fred Cavazza, Social Media Landscape [CC-BY-NC-SA] http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredcavazza/2564571564
Role of ICTs in improving quality, widening access and cutting costs in the teaching function
Technology must be seen as a supportive tool
The use of technology needs to add value
Categories
ICT Infrastructure and Applications
Connectivity/Internet Access
Programme, Course, and Materials Development and Delivery
Public Service and External Collaboration
Licensing of e-Learning Materials
Capacity Building
Quality Assurance, Monitoring, and Evaluation
Change Management