New Directions:Online Learning & the University of California’s
A-G Subject Area Requirements
Monica H. Lin, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions
University of California | Office of the President
e-Learning Strategies SymposiumDecember 7, 2012
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Overview
Policy background
The “a-g” course lists & course update process
New “a-g” review process for online courses
Policy implementation: challenges & successes
Policy Background
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UC and Online Learning
University of California priority: accessibility of a broad range of high-quality, rigorous college-preparatory courses
UC keeping pace with the changing landscape of online learning
– Facilitate students’ access to “a-g” online courses– Encourage online educators to uphold promising practices of
online learning for student success
Revised policy to offer improved guidance and more efficient process of satisfying UC admission requirements
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Highlights of Policy Revisions
UC “program status” requirement for online entities has been eliminated
New policy focuses on quality assessment of online courses for “a-g” purposes
– Flexible to accommodate differing types of online courses– Addresses UC faculty online learning guidelines
Policy revisions incorporate national quality standards for online courses and programs
Partnership between UC and the California Learning Resource Network (CLRN)
A-G Course Lists &Course Update Process
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A-G Course Lists
UC and CSU admissions requirements include satisfying a 15-course pattern of college-preparatory “a-g” courses
– High school courses must undergo “a-g” review and approval to appear on the “a-g” course list
The “a-g” course list is an important component of the applicant review process
– All “a-g” course lists must be updated each year to maintain accuracy for applyUC and for UC’s comprehensive review
Updates to the “a-g” course list are submitted using the UC Online Update website:
– https://doorways.ucop.edu/update
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A-G Course List Update Timeline
New update cycle opens on
February 1
Submit new courses and
other course list updates
New courses submitted on or
before
June 1:
up to 2 resubmissions
allowed
New courses submitted on or
before
August 1:
only 1 resubmission
allowed
New courses submitted on or
before
September 15:
no resubmissions allowed
Update cycle closes on
September 15
New A-G Review Process for Online Courses
(effective 2013-14)
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Online Course Publisher vs. Online School
UC now differentiates between an online course publisher and an online school
– Online course publishers develop their own curriculum and sell or license their online courses for delivery by a teacher within a high school or district
– Online school is a credit- or diploma-granting institution that offers courses strictly through Internet-based methods, with time and/or distance separating the teacher and learner
Institutions that act as both an online course publisher and online school will follow the procedures for online schools
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Review of Online Courses(effective 2013-14)
Submit online course to CLRN for review*
Assess the online course against the iNACOL Standards for Quality Online Courses and CA content standards
CLRN-certified OR
Self-assessed
Submit online course to UC for “a-g” review
Conduct subject-specific review against UC faculty’s content criteria
Approve course for “a-g”?
Add course to online publisher’s or online school’s “a-g” course list; approval expires in 3 years
STEP 1
STEP 2
*If not eligible for CLRN review, the online course must be self-assessed by the online publisher or school.
YES
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Step #1A: CLRN Certification
Effective for:– Online course publishers serving public institutions– Public online schools
A CLRN-certified online course must:– Meet at least 80% of CA Content or Common Core Standards– Fulfill all 15 “power standards” from the iNACOL Standards for Quality Online
Courses– Satisfy at least 27 (or 80%) of the remaining iNACOL Standards
Courses not aligned with a set of standards must be self-assessed (Step #1B)
To submit a course to CLRN: – http://clrn.org/elr/index.cfm?event=publisher.login
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Step #1B: Self-Assessment
Effective for:– Online course publishers serving only private institutions– Private online schools– Any online courses not aligned with state standards– 2014-15 school year: Non-online high schools, districts, and
programs
Institution conducts self-assessment against iNACOL Standards for Quality Online Courses
Self-assessment will be incorporated into the course submission process for UC “a-g” review
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Step #2: UC A-G Course Review
Only CLRN-certified or self-assessed online courses can be submitted to UC during the course list update cycle
– Open annually, February 1 through September 15
Basis for “a-g” course review and approval:– “a-g” course evaluation guidelines– Subject area course requirements
All courses are reviewed by a subject area analyst– “Blind” reviews– Goal: new CLRN-certified online courses reviewed within 2-4 weeks
To submit a course to UC:– https://doorways.ucop.edu/update
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Adding A-G Online Courses
Access UC’s “a-g” Online Update website
Indicate intent to add previously approved online course(s)
Certify that program/school/district will satisfy UC’s online learning guidelines and policy for online courses to receive “a-g” approval (once per annual update cycle)
Add online course to “a-g” course list
Select online course to add to “a-g” course list
Policy Implementation:Challenges & Successes
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Challenges
Shifting the focus from UC “approving providers” to UC approving courses
Identifying expert reviewers of quality online delivery
Sheer volume of “homegrown” teacher-created online courses
Definitions of online entities are not always clear-cut
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Successes
The appropriate experts are reviewing online courses:– CLRN ensuring quality online delivery– UC ensuring quality “a-g” content
Improved efficiencies in seeking “a-g” approval for online courses
Anticipated increase in “a-g” online course offerings– Broader access to “a-g” courses– Greater preparation for UC admissions
Enhanced quality of online learning for students
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New Directions
Elimination of principal certification for non-UC-approved online courses
– Not acceptable for online courses completed in 2013-14 academic year and beyond
Re-evaluation of policy regarding online courses in laboratory science and in visual & performing arts
– Under current policy: Online science courses OK but require supervised, on-site wet lab Online VPA courses not allowable
UC encourages educators to incorporate promising practices for excellence in online teaching and learning
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http://www.ucop.edu/agguide/index.html
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Resources
Helpful links:– California Learning Resource Network (CLRN)
http://clrn.org
– International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) http://inacol.org
– UC Doorways websites: “a-g” Course List website – https://doorways.ucop.edu/list Online Update website – https://doorways.ucop.edu/update
Contact High School Articulation in UC systemwide Admissions:
– E-mail: [email protected] – Phone: (510) 987-9570
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Thank You
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