LS4ODFL/Quality Assurance for Learner Support/Standards for Quality

Quality learning is the foremost goal of any course or programme. Guidelines regarding minimum standards must be used by course designers and facilitators for course development, design, and delivery of quality instruction. These standards emanate from course/ programme mission, goals and objectives and its underlying beliefs and philosophy. Leadership is also addressed: the programme’s governance, the role of the governing body and how the relationship between the governing body and organisational/programme leadership work together to support the achievement of the mission. Beyond the foundation of what the programme has as its mission, goals, and objectives, are the standards that address how the programme operates, its teaching and learning standards and support standards. A programme also needs to provide support mechanisms for student and teacher success in online courses. The standards are intended to provide guidance while providing maximum flexibility for the users.

 You may recall learning about designing online courses in Module 1. Let us now look at the individual components for standards for quality online courses.

Institutional Standards Institutional standards address the organisation's vision, mission, philosophy, and beliefs. The institutional standards define those elements critical to creating the operational framework of the online programme, including the governance, leadership, resources, and organisational commitment to meet the programme's vision and mission.

Teaching and Learning Standards Teaching and learning standards focus on how an online programme develops or chooses its curricula; how the programme's teachers deliver that curriculum to students; and how students' progress in the curriculum is assessed. These standards assume that a quality online programme meets those individual course and teacher standards and identifies the most critical aspects of those standards as well as a more comprehensive, "macro-level" set of standards to truly be considered a quality online programme.

Support Standards Support standards address the organisation's academic, administrative, guidance and technical services that are critical to meeting the needs of all participants in the online programme.

Evaluation Standards A culture of continual programme improvement is critical in becoming a quality online programme and maintaining that status. Evaluation efforts are utilised to both verify the programme is meeting its intended purposes and identify where improvements can be made. The cycle is completed by taking this information and developing concrete plans for programme improvement.

 Standards for quality online courses are a valuable component in the instructional design process. They help guide course designers and identify needed improvements within courses and programmes, and they create consistency in both faculty expectations and the student experience. In addition, course quality standards provide institutions with the opportunity to identify and select standards that best reflect their brand, mission, and values in learning and teaching. Once the standards are determined, we can move on to monitoring learner support and achievement.