Emerging Quality Standards in Online Learning2014 VCU Online Learning Summit

Presenters• Lisa Ames, e-Learning Specialist, LMS Admin

Division of Teaching and Learning Technologies University of Mary Washington

• Joy Taylor, Director Learning Support Services George Mason University

Networked Learning Collaborative of Virginia(NLCVA)

What is NLCVA?• Networked Learning Collaborative of Virginia (NLCVA)

formerly known as Electronic Campus of Virginia (ECVA)

• 1997 by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council

• Mission: to advance learning technology activities and academic missions of member institutions

• Members - check our list, JOIN US!

• Membership - $350

What is NLCVA’s goal?

• Knowledge sharing across multiple institutions

• Collaboration on innovative programs and ideas

• Support cross-institutional initiatives by leveraging collective resources

Why are we here today?

• Identify potential areas of focus for NLCVA through conversation with YOU

• Address current ideas and issues related to teaching & learning technologies

Emerging Quality Standards in Online Learning

Questions

1. HOW do we know there are concerns about quality of online learning?

2. WHY might those concerns exist?

3. WHY does it matter?

Agenda• Provide context/background • Examine 4 Quality Efforts• Reference Virginia Institutions• Open Floor for Discussion

Why are there Concerns about Quality?• The percent of academic leaders rating the learning outcomes

in online education as the same or superior to those in face-to-face instruction had grown from 57 percent in 2003 to 77 percent in 2012. However, the upward trend was reversed this year, with a dip to 74 percent.

• The proportion of academic leaders who believe the learning outcomes for online education are inferior to those of face-to-face instruction increased from 23 percent last year to 26 percent this year.

Babson Survey 2014

Concerns About Quality

• Employers are skeptical about quality of online learning due to perceived lack of developing soft skills (The Online Evolution, Norton, 2013, Australia)

• Anecdotal feedback • Students report avoiding online courses • Parents are skeptical

Why do these Concerns Exist?• Preceding reputation of minimal student engagement• Horror stories of bad practice

• Relatively unknown vs. 100 years of tradition

• Assumptions/lack of experience

• Defense mechanism?

Demographics are Changingthe “non-traditional” student

• Caucasian females • 35 years of age• Not the first in their family to attend college • Total family income of about $55,000• Live in suburban community• Married• No children under age 18 • Work full time• English is first language• High school diploma or 1-2 years of college

Online Learning Students 2013, Aslanian and Clinefelter

Online College Students 2013: Comprehensive Data on Demands and Preferences, Aslanian and Clinefelter, page 30

The 2013 CIRP Freshman Survey included new items asking students to report the frequency with which they “used an online instructional website (e.g., Khan Academy, Coursera) as assigned for a class; or to learn something on your own.” About four out of ten (41.8%) incoming students frequently or occasionally used an online instructional website as assigned for a class in the past year.

The American Freshman: National Norms Fall 2013, Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, Cooperative Institutional Research Program, March 2014, page 2

The New Norm

Successfully complete one virtual course, which may be non-credit bearing.

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/graduation/standard.shtml

http://www.k12.com/

Why does it Matter?

It’s not going away!

It will no longer be about “who provides that course online?” ….it will be “who does a better job with that course?”

Quality Efforts

• SLOAN Consortium• 70 quality indicators

• Institutional Support• Technology Support• Course Development• Course Structure• Teaching/Learning• Engagement• Faculty Support• Student Support• Evaluation/Assessment

• Carnegie Mellon• The Simon Initiative• Standards, ethics, protocols,

practices• Communication and

coordination• Action strategies

http://www.cmu.edu/simon/

Virginia Institutions

Virginia • 27 member institutions• Community colleges, universities and

colleges• Private and public• Statewide

Virginia• 15 member institutions• Community colleges, universities,

colleges• Private and public• Statewide

Discussion

Discussion

How is your institution addressing quality?

NLCVA Contact Information

Sarah Cheverton, Current Chaircheverse@jmu.edu540.568.3393

Website: http://nlcvirginia.org

Email:nlcva2014@gmail.com