Abstract
This research identifies six online course evaluation instruments used nationally or in statewide systems. We examined the characteristics (i.e., number of standards and criteria) and coded the criteria that guide the design of online courses. We discussed the focus of the instruments and their unique features.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2016). Online report card: Tracking online education in the United States. Wellesley: Babson Research Group.
Blackboard. (2016). Exemplary course program. Retrieved from http://www.blackboard.com/consulting-training/training-technical-services/exemplary-course-program.aspx.
Blackboard. (2012). Blackboard exemplary course program rubric. Retrieved from http://www.blackboard.com/resources/getdocs/7deaf501-4674-41b9-b2f2-554441ba099b_bbexemplarycourserubric_nov12final.pdf.
California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. (2016a). About the OEI. Retrieved from http://ccconlineed.org/about-the-oei/.
California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. (2016b). Online course design standards. Retrieved from http://ccconlineed.org/faculty-resources/professional-development/online-course-design-standards/.
California Community College Online Education Initiative. (2016). Course design rubric for the online education initiative. Retrieved from http://ccconlineed.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/OEI_CourseDesignRubric_Nov2016-3.pdf.
California State University. (2015a). QOLT awards program CFP. Retrieved from http://courseredesign.csuprojects.org/wp/qualityassurance/qolt-awards-cfp/.
California State University. (2015b). QOLT evaluation instruments. Retrieved from http://courseredesign.csuprojects.org/wp/qualityassurance/qolt-instruments/.
California State University. (2015c). QOLT program background. Retrieved from http://courseredesign.csuprojects.org/wp/qualityassurance/qolt/.
California State University. (2015d). Welcome. Retrieved from http://courseredesign.csuprojects.org/wp/qualityassurance/.
Chao, T. I., Saj, T., & Hamilton, D. (2010). Using collaborative course development to achieve online course quality standards. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 11(3), 106–126 Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/912/1644.
Chao, T., Saj, T., & Tessier, F. (2006). Establishing a quality review for online courses. Educause Quarterly, 29(3), 32–40.
Chua, A., & Lam, W. (2007). Quality assurance in online education: The Universitas 21 Global approach. British Journal of Educational Technology, 38(1), 133–152.
Feldman, S., McElroy, E. J., & LaCour, N. (2000). Distance education, guidelines for good practice. Washington: American Federation of Teachers Retrieved from http://www.umsl.edu/technology/frc/pdfs/guidlines_for_good_practice_DL.pdf.
Haynie, D. (2015). Study shows sluggish online learning growth for second year. U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2015/02/05/study-shows-sluggish-online-learning-growth-for-second-year.
Heaton, L. A., Pauley, R., & Childress, R. (2002). Quality control for online graduate course delivery: A case study. Computers in the Schools, 19(3–4), 103–114. doi:10.1300/J025v19v03_09.
Herron, R. I., Holsombach-Ebner, C., Shomate, A. K., & Szathmary, K. J. (2012). Large scale quality engineering in distance learning programs. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 16(5), 19–35 Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/docview/1361854475?accountid=11311.
Illinois Online Network. (2015a). Quality online course initiative rubric & checklist. University of Illinois. Retrieved from http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/initiatives/qoci/rubric.asp.
Illinois Online Network. (2015b). Quality online course initiative. Retrieved from http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/initiatives/qoci/index.asp.
Kleen, B., & Soule, L. (2010). Reflections on online course design-Quality Matters™ evaluation and student feedback: An exploratory study. Issues in Information Systems, 11(2), 152–161.
Legon, R. (2015). Measuring the impact of the Quality Matters Rubric™: A discussion of possibilities. American Journal of Distance Education, 29(3), 166–173.
Little, B. B. (2009). Quality assurance for online nursing courses. Journal of Nursing Education, 48(7), 381–387.
Lorenzo, G. (2014). OEI approves course design rubric. TechEDge. Retrieved from http://ccctechedge.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=460&Itemid=24.
Lowenthal, P., & Hodges, C. (2015). In search of quality: Using Quality Matters to analyze the quality of massive, open, online courses (MOOCs). The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 16(5). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/2348/3411.
Maryland Online, Inc. (2014). Quality MattersTM overview. Retrieved from https://www.qualitymatters.org/applying-rubric-15/download/QM_Overview_for%20Current%20Subscribers_AE2013.pdf.
MarylandOnline. (2016). Higher education program. Retrieved from https://www.qualitymatters.org/higher-education-program.
MarylandOnline, Inc. (2016). Welcome to the Quality Matters research library! Retrieved from https://www.qmprogram.org/qmresources/research/.
McGahan, S. J., Jackson, C. M., & Premer, K. (2015). Online course quality assurance: Development of a quality checklist. InSight: A Journal of Scholarly Teaching, 10, 126–140.
Means, B., Toyama, Y., Murphy, R., Bakia, M., & Jones, K. (2010). Evaluation of evidence-based practices in online learning: A meta-analysis and review of online learning studies. U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, Policy and Program Studies Service website. Retrieved from gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.Pdf.
Online Learning Consortium. (2015). The open SUNY COTE quality review (OSCQR) process and rubric. Retrieved from https://secure.onlinelearningconsortium.org/conference/2015/aln/open-suny-cote-quality-review-oscqr-process-and-rubric.
Open SUNY Center for Online Teaching Excellence. (2016). Course supports. Retrieved from http://commons.suny.edu/cote/course-supports/.
Parscale, S. L., Dumont, J. F., & Plessner, V. R. (2015). The effect of quality management theory on assessing student learning outcomes. S.A.M. Advanced Management Journal, 80(4), 19–30 Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/docview/1757273567?accountid=11311.
Quality Matters. (2016). Course design rubric standards. Retrieved from https://www.qualitymatters.org/qa-resources/rubric-standards/higher-ed-rubric.
San Francisco State University. (2016). Welcome to QOLT. Retrieved from http://qolt.sfsu.edu.
Shattuck, K. (2010). Quality Matters: A faculty-centered program to assure quality in online course design. Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching, 3, 49–53.
Shattuck, K., Zimmerman, W. A., & Adair, D. (2014). Continuous improvement of the QM Rubric and review processes: Scholarship of integration and application. Internet Learning, 3(1), 25–34 Retrieved from http://www.ipsonet.org/images/Westphalia_Press/Internet_Learning_Journal_2-2/3- 1/3.%20Shattuck%20ILJ%203-1.pdf.
State University of New York. (2016). OSCQR. Retrieved from https://bbsupport.sln.suny.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/OSCQR/OSCQR-Links-BKP-2016-08-09.html.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baldwin, S., Ching, YH. & Hsu, YC. Online Course Design in Higher Education: A Review of National and Statewide Evaluation Instruments. TechTrends 62, 46–57 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-017-0215-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-017-0215-z