Assuring Quality in Online Education

✍ Scribed by Shattuck, Kay

• Publisher: Stylus Publishing
• Year: 2014
• Tongue: English
• Series: Online Learning and Distance Education Series
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Online distance education continues to grow at a fast pace, even outpacing the overall growth of U.S. higher education. Demands for quality are coming from all shareholders involved. As if caught by surprise, a patchwork response to quality is often the typical organizational response. The result can be inconsistent and uncoordinated levels of value to those invested in online learning. This often promotes negative images of the educational experience and institution.

Comprised of highly regarded experts in the field, this edited volume provides a comprehensive overview of quality assurance, a snapshot of current practices and proven recommendations for raising standards of quality in online education.

Topics discussed include:

• Improving practices for teaching online
• Using educational analytics for quality assurance and improvement
• Accessibility: An important dimension of quality assurance
• Assuring quality in online course design
• Assuring quality in learner support, academic resources, advising and counseling
• The role and realities of accreditation

This text clearly answers the call for addressing quality from a broad, deep and coordinated understanding. It addresses the complexities of quality assurance in higher education and offers professionals top-shelf advice and support.

*This text is also appropriate for students enrolled in Educational Technology and Higher Education Administration Masters and PhD programs

✦ Table of Contents

CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FOREWORD

Michael Grahame Moore

PREFACE

PART ONE: OVERVIEW AND IMPLICATIONS OF PRACTICES AND PROCESSES FOR ASSURING QUALITY

1. STAKEHOLDERS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN ONLINE EDUCATION
   Inputs and Outputs

Deborah Adair and Sebastián Díaz

1. COST, ACCESS, AND QUALITY
   Breaking the Iron Triangle Through Disruptive Technology-Based Innovations

Stella C. S. Porto

1. THE SLOAN CONSORTIUM PILLARS AND QUALITY SCORECARD

Janet C. Moore and Kaye Shelton

1. K–12 ONLINE LEARNING
   Recommendations for Assuring Quality

Susan Patrick, Matthew Wicks, and Allison Powell

1. PROGRESS TOWARD TRANSPARENCY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

Cali Morrison, Karen Paulson, and Russell Poulin

PART TWO: QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AT THE COURSE DESIGN AND TEACHING LEVELS

1. A PROCESS TO IMPROVE COURSE DESIGN
   A Key Variable in Course Quality

Deborah Adair

1. A MODEL FOR DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPACT OF FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Lawrence C. Ragan and Carol A. McQuiggan

1. THE POWER OF A COLLABORATIVE, COLLEGIAL APPROACH TO IMPROVING ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING

Leonard Bogle, Scott Day, Daniel Matthews, and Karen Swan

1. ENGAGING ONLINE FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS IN THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Jennifer Stephens-Helm, Karan Powell, and Julie Atwood

1. DISABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
   Proactive Strategies to Improve Quality

Barbara A. Frey and Lorna R. Kearns

1. ASSURING QUALITY FOR AN EXPANDING POPULATION OF CULTURALLY DIVERSE STUDENTS

Kay Shattuck, Jennifer A. Linder-VanBerschot, Janice Maloney High, Carrie Main, Li Wang, and David Black

PART THREE: PROCESSES FOR ASSURING QUALITY AT RESOURCE AND PROGRAM LEVELS

1. ETHICS MATTERS
   Assuring Quality at the Academic Program Level

Melody M. Thompson and Gary W. Kuhne

1. ACADEMIC ADVISING
   A Link to a Quality Experience for Students

Heather L. Chakiris

1. LEARNING ANALYTICS
   A Tool for Quality Assurance

Phil Ice, Melissa Layne, and Wallace Boston

1. USING PRINCIPLES OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR EDUCATIONAL QUALITY ASSURANCE

Sebastián Díaz, Wallace Boston, Melissa Layne, and Phil Ice

1. AN ADAPTIVE MODEL FOR CALCULATING CONTACT HOURS IN DISTANCE-EDUCATION COURSES

Karan Powell, Jennifer Stephens-Helm, Melissa Layne, and Phil Ice

1. THE ROLE AND REALITIES OF ACCREDITATION
   A Practical Guide for Programs and Institutions Preparing for an Accreditation Visit

Susan Biro, Christine Mullins, and Jean Runyon

PART FOUR: FINAL THOUGHTS

1. SAYING “QUALITY ASSURANCE” WHEN WE MEAN SOMETHING ELSE

Julie Porosky Hamlin

1. BUMBLEBEES CAN FLY—AND SO CAN WE!

John Sener

EDITOR AND CONTRIBUTORS

INDEX