In this Unit you have learnt about educational policy and why it is important to have it in your education systems, especially in open schooling. You have also learnt about how policy is developed and some of the key players in the policy process. Through this unit, you have also learnt about the importance of quality assuring your education processes, and the approaches you can use to do so. It is envisaged that you saw the direct link between policy and quality provision of education in open schooling. In the next unit, you will learn about governance and management of ODFL and how they contribute to quality open and distance learning.
This quiz will help you to check your understanding of selected concepts covered in this unit. These questions are re-used for the knowledge tests for students who are interested in earning a digital Q4ODFL1 Participation badge for QA4ODFL1 or a digital QA4ODFL1 Completion badge. Please consult the Knowledge tests page and the Scenario-based assessment page for more information.
To check your understanding of what you learnt in this unit, do the following quiz.
Consider each of the following statements about distance education policy and quality. Indicate whether they are true or false, or select the correct option, in your opinion:
- It is not necessary to have an ODL policy at national level if you have open schooling
- True
- Incorrect, it is necessary to have an ODL policy at national level to regulate open schooling
- False
- Yes, national policy is important to regulate open schooling
- Which statement does not explain what policy is?
- What government chooses to do or not to do.
- Incorrect, policy is about decisions government makes on a particular aspect of public importance.
- A document that explains guidelines to be followed in addressing an identified problem
- Incorrect, it is correct that policy can be a document that provides guidelines to be followed in addressing an identified problem.
- Various options that are given by people on how to address a felt problem
- Correct, policy is not various options but one chosen option from amongst the many that are initially proposed.
- A statement of intent
- Incorrect, policy is a statement or document which outlines government's intention.
- Which statement identifies a difference between face-to-face and ODFL?
- In face-to-face environments, learning is structured and based on a defined curriculum
- Incorrect, both face -to- face and ODFL are structured and are based on a defined curriculum.
- There is rigorous student assessment in face-to-face learning environments.
- Incorrect, Both systems have rigorous student assessment.
- In ODFL, learners learn at their own pace and at any time of the day
- Correct, Unlike in face-to-face learning, ODFL provides the flexibility of learning at one's own pace and at any time.
- In ODFL, the teacher needs to monitor learner progress
- Incorrect, in both systems, the teacher needs to monitor learner progress.
- In ODFL, support is needed in the learning process
- Incorrect, in both face-to-face and ODFL, learners need to be supported.
- Which one of the following statements is not a typical characteristic of ODFL?
- Learners use independent learning materials which are self-instructional.
- Incorrect, In ODFL, learners typically use independent learning materials.
- There is use of technology in the teaching and learning processes
- Incorrect, There is use of technology in the teaching and learning processes in ODFL.
- Facilitators deal with a distributed group of learners
- Incorrect, In ODFL, facilitators deal with a distributed group of learners.
- The providing institution should have sound sporting infrastructure for use by the many students
- Correct, This is not typical of ODFL. Providers do not need sporting infrastructure because learners study away from campus.
- All learners should be registered with the providing institution.
- Incorrect, In both face-to-face and ODFL all learners should be registered with the providing institution.
- The following statements show the sequence of activities in the policy process. Which of the statements is not TRUE?
- Stage 1- Identifying issues
- Incorrect, it is true that Stage 1 involves identifying issues in the policy process.
- Stage 2 - Analysing issues and setting the agenda
- Incorrect, it is true that analysing issues and setting the policy agenda is the second stage in the policy process.
- Stage 3 – Policy implementation
- Correct, policy implementation is NOT the third stage in the policy process. You need to have policy drafted first before you implement it.
- Stage 4 - Drafting policy instruments
- Incorrect, it is true that Stage 4 involves drafting policy instruments.
- Which of the following statements captures the most accurate definition of quality assurance in education?
- Measures that are taken to ensure that learners who fail a grade don’t progress to the next grade.
- Incorrect, Typically, quality assurance is there to ensure that learners pass and progress to the next grade.
- Ensuring that learners’ work is marked.
- Incorrect, Quality assurance is broader than just ensuring that learners' work is marked.
- Mechanisms that are put in place to ensure that set targets will be achieved.
- Correct, Quality assurance is about ensuring that goals that are set are achieved within defined timelines.
- Frequent visits to schools by officials from the Ministry head office.
- Incorrect, Quality assurance is not just about visits to schools by Ministry officials
- Releasing examination results on time
- Incorrect, Quality assurance includes many more activities than releasing examination results.
- Which of the following is not a quality assurance tool?
- An institutional quality assurance policy.
- Incorrect, a quality assurance policy is a quality assurance tool
- Quality criteria.
- Incorrect, a set of quality criteria is a quality assurance tool.
- Templates used for compiling institutional review reports.
- incorrect, templates used for compiling quality review reports and improvement plans are quality assurance tools
- Learning resources given to students.
- Correct, learning resources are not quality assurance tools - they are not used for quality assurance.
- Ethical guidelines to be used by reviewers
- Incorrect, ethical guidelines for use by reviewers are a quality assurance tool.
- Which of the following statements is TRUE?
- Institutional self-assessment on performance is an example of internal QA
- Correct, it is true that self-assessment on how an institution performs is an example of internal QA
- Self-evaluation can only be undertaken at institutional level.
- Incorrect, it is not true because self-evaluation can be undertaken at various levels in an institution.
- Site visits are not part of external evaluation
- Incorrect, site visits are part of external evaluation.
- Developing an improvement plan comes before a site visit report is compiled
- Incorrect, development of improvement plans happens after site visits.
- Internal quality assurance does not involve compiling recommendations for improvement.
- Incorrect, internal quality assurance involves compiling recommendations for improvement
- In open schooling you can conduct quality assurance reviews at regional/provincial or at programme level.
- True
- Correct, This is correct because quality assurance can be conducted at various levels in an education system.
- False
- Incorrect, this is incorrect because quality assurance can be conducted at various levels in an education system.
- When you use open education resources (OER) with a CC BY license in your teaching and learning processes, you do not need to acknowledge the original creator of the resources.
- True
- Incorrect, you need to acknowledge the original creator of any content with a CC license, including a CC BY license.
- False
- Correct, this is the correct answer because you need to acknowledge the original creator of a resource with any type of a Creative Commons (CC) license.
