download the podcast - the mp3 file
After the publication of best practices for online and hybrid programs based on benchmarks derived from extensive longitudinal studies, online programs almost universally adopted them, modifying them to fit their individual needs.
Since that time, academicians, students, and online program administrators have started to identify gaps in the best practices, particularly as they apply to 100-percent online programs, blended solutions (part online, part face-to-face) and multi-delivery method 100% distance (audio-enhanced, etc.).
Nevertheless, they continue to serve a vitally important function as guides and a useful point of departure for programs and schools.
Below is an updated list of resources of current benchmark studies and articles on best practices. Sloan-C, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), the American Council on Education (ACE), the American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC), and others help one determine an institution’s readiness to successfully develop and deliver distance education.
Many of the studies focused on the needs of adult learners. They have built on the following “best practices” which include “Principles of Good Practice for Alternative and External Degree Programs for Adults” (Principles 1990), and “Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education” (Chickering and Gamson 1987). While some of the studies focus on undergraduate education, the principles have been applied to graduate programs.
In terms of online learning, many of the best practices or benchmark studies are organized in terms of categories. These topics, paraphrased and generalized from the literature, include the following: Committed Institution; Learner-Friendly Environment; Quality Courses, Curriculum, and Instruction; Faculty Support; and, Institutional Infrastructure.
While the categories are very useful in identifying strengths, weaknesses, and needs, when considered in conjunction with other best practices and benchmarking, they also give rise to possible gaps. These are not always straightforward or easily remedied gaps, but ones that typically span several categories, making it much more problematic to effect a quick fix or simply intervention.
Committed Institution
The learning organization must prioritize distance and flexible learning, and in doing so, must demonstrate support that is realistic, appropriate, timely, and expandable for the future.
Possible Gaps
Program “force-fit” to institutional mission. In their eagerness to offer online courses and programs, institutions may force-fit the program to the institution’s vision and mission.
Revenue generation perceived as more important than the education experience provided.
Learner-Friendly Environment
Students, faculty, and other users find the services provided by the learning organization easy to use, accessible, and thorough. The learning organization provides online services such as registration, records, bursar, and library access. Technology utilized is up-to-date and appropriate for the user’s actual environments and work patterns.
Possible Gaps.
Ambiguous needs assessments.
Always a half-a-beat behind the technology curve.
Quality Courses, Curriculum, and Instruction
The learning organization has an academic and instructional plan, which has been developed, reviewed, and approved by teams consisting of teaching faculty, subject matter experts, and governing / executive faculty members. Instructional strategies adhere to generally accepted principles of online and distance instruction, and rest upon a solid foundation of theory, practice, and experiential/research knowledge.
Possible Gaps.
Cookie cutter courses.
Unwittingly producing training, not higher education.
Flexible delivery modes should stress multiplicity of modes.
Lack of a plan, or coordinated instructional strategy
Jumping on the latest delivery mode bandwagon, even when not appropriate.
At-risk students left behind.
Failure to conduct objective periodic program reviews
Faculty Support, Capacity, Training, Mentoring, Compensation
Faculty members teach and develop courses in areas where they have demonstrated
expertise, experience, and/or leadership. When asked to instruct courses, faculty are provided support, training, and guidance in a proactive manner. Compensation is fair, and intellectual property issues are settled in a manner that is mutually agreeable.
Possible Gaps.
Failure to provide timely and appropriate mentoring and training.
Failure to review faculty credentials and evidence of growth.
When flexibility becomes rigidity.
Institutional Infrastructure: Partnerships and Alliances / Economies of Scale
Because the investment in online programs can be prohibitively costly due to initial investment in infrastructure as well as ongoing investments in expansions, upgrades, and change, many institutions cannot afford the cost of embarking on a solo venture. It is necessary for them to partner
Library partnerships that work.
Caught in a partner’s political agenda.
Guilt by association: when the partner is unethical.
BEST PRACTICES IN ONLINE AND TECHNOLOGY-MEDIATED INSTRUCTION
Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. 1993. Distance Education in the California Community Colleges: An Academic Senate Review of the Social, Fiscal and Educational Issues .
Academic Senate For California Community Colleges, 1993, Curriculum Committee Review of Distance Learning Courses and Sections.
Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, 1997, Guidelines for Good Practice: Technology-Mediated Instruction.
Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, 1999, Guidelines for Good Practice: Effective Instructor-Student Contact in Distance Learning, with Sample Course Outlines.
Allan, E., Seaman, J. 2003. Sizing the Opportunity: The Quality and Extent of Online Learning in the United States, 2002-2003 (PDF Format). Sloan-C.
American Council on Education - Center for Adult Learning and Educational Credentials. 1996. Guiding Principles for distance learning in a learning society. One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20036-1193.
American Distance Education Consortium. (2001). ADEC guiding principles fordistance learning. Available: http://www.adec.edu/
Andersen, P.A., and Andersen, J.F. (1982). Nonverbal immediacy in instruction. In L. L. Barker (Ed), Communication in the classroom: Original essays. Englewood Cliffs, NH: Prentice-Hall.
Archer, W. (1999). Delivering university-level communications programs at a distance: Benefits, costs, and disruptions. Canadian Journal of Communication. 24 (3), 367-383.
Archer, W., Garrison, D.R., and Anderson, T.D. (1999). Adopting disruptive technologies in traditional universities: Continuing education as an incubator for innovation. Canadian Journal of University Continuing Education. 25 (1), 13-30.
Barnlund, D.C. (1962). Toward a meaning-centered philosophy of communication. Journal of Communication 11, 198-202.
Barr, R. B., and Tagg, J. (1995). A new paradigm for undergraduate education. Chage. November / December.
Benchmarking: Pure and simple. (1997). Houston, TX: American Productivity and Quality Center.
Berg, G. A. (2001) Distance learning best practices debate. WebNet Journal. April-June 2001.
California State University Academic Senate. 1996. Principles Regarding Technology Mediated Instruction in CSU. Attachment to AS-2321-96/AA/FA.
Chickering, A.W., and Gamson, Z.F. (1987). Seven principles of good practice inundergraduate education: faculty inventory. Available: www.byu.edu/fc/pages/tchlrnpages/7princip.html.
Chickering, A.W., and Ehrman, S.C. (1997). Implementing the seven principles:technology as lever. American Association for Higher Education. Available: www.aahe.org/technology/ehrmann.htm.
College debates the wisdom of having on-campus students enroll in on-line classes. The Chronicle of Higher Education. 27 Mar 1998.
Commission for a Nation of Lifelong Learners. (1997). A nation learning: Vision for the 21st century. Albany, NY: Regents College.
Eaton, J.S. (2001). Distance learning: Academic and political challenges for higher education accreditation. CHEA Monograph, Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Garrison, D.R., Anderson, T., and Archer, W. (2000). Critical thinking in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. Internet in Higher Education, 2 (2), 85-107.
Graham, C., Cagiltay, K., Lim, B., Craner, J., & Duffy, T.M. (2001). Seven principles ofeffective teaching: A practical lens for evaluating online course. The Technology Source. Michigan Virtual University. Available http://ts.mivu.org/default.asp?show=article&id=839.
Hussar, W. J. (1998). Projections of education statistics to 2008. National Center for Education Statistics Report NCES 98-017. Washington, DC: Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U. S. Department of Education.
Institute for Higher Education Policy. (2000). Quality on the line: Benchmarks for success in Internet-based distance education. Washington, D. C.: Author.
Jonassen, D. H., Peck, K.L., & Wilson, B.G. (1999). Learning with technology: Aconstructivist perspective. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Kazlauskas, Edward. 2003. What Works in Distance Learning: Management Strategies, Strategies Based on Content Management System, v.5, updated last on 02/03/03. See also O’Neil, H. F. (2003). What works in distance learning (Report to the Office of Naval Research). Los Angeles: University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education.
Knowles, M.S., Holton, E.F., and Swanson, R. A. (1998). The adult learner. 5th ed. Houston, TX: Gulf Publishing.
Kozlovic, Anton Karl. 2003. Teaching Computer-and-Society Issues Through Popular Films: The Case of Desk Set (1957). Effective Teaching. [Online], 6(2). Available HTTP: http://www.uncw.edu/cte/et/articles.htm [2003, June 7].
Krauth, Barbara. 1996. Principles of Good Practice for Distance Learning Programs. Cause/Effect. Spring: 6-8.
Leblanc, R. (1998). Good teaching: The top ten requirements. The Teaching Professor.October 8, 1998. Available:http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/topten.htm
Levine, Arther, and Su, Jeffrey. (2002). Barriers to distance eduation. American Council on Education Center for Policy Analysis: Washington, DC. http://www.educause.edu/asp/doclib/abstract.asp?ID=PUB5106
Lorenzo, George, and Janet Moore. (2002). Five Pillars of Quality Online Education. Sloan-C. http://sloan-c.org/effective/pillarreport1.pdf
Lund, Darryl. (2002). ADEC IDEAL IRIC-D Committee Checklist. http://www.adec.edu/ideal/iric-d_checklist.htm
Matheos, K., and Archer, A. (2004). From distance education to distributed learning: Surviving and thriving. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 7:4. http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter74/matheos74.htm
Merriam, S. & Caffarella, R. (1999). Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide. (2nd ed.) San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Michigan Virtual University. (2002). "Standards for Quality Online Courses," Online Instructor Program. http://standards.mivu.org/evaluator
Milheim, William D., editor. (1994). Authoring-Systems Software for Computer-Based Training. Englewood Cliffs, NJ : Educational Technology Publications.
Mishra, S. (2005). “Learning from the Online Learners.” British Journal of Educational Technology. Vol 36 (3): 569-574.
National Teachers Enhancement Network. (1999). Acceptable practices. University ofMontana. Available http://btc.montana.edu/nten/practices_text.shtml.
Newby, T., Stepich, D., Lehman, J., & Russell, J. (1996). Instructional technology for teaching and learning. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.
North Central Association Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. 2000. Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs. http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/resources/electronic_degrees/Best_Pract_DEd.pdf
Pennsylvania State University. (1998). Faculty development 101. PennState WorldCampus. Available https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/welcome/facdev101/index.html
Principles of good practice for alternative and external degree programs for adults. (1990). Washington, DC: American Council on Education.
Shank, R. (1997). Virtual learning: A revolutionary approach to building a highlyskilled workforce. McGraw-Hill, NY.
Sloan-C. (2003) Sizing the Opportunity. http://www.sloan-c.org/
Sloan-C. (2004) Entering the Mainstream. http://www.sloan-c.org/
Stryker, C. (1999). Teaching successful telecourses. National Teachers EnhancementNetwork – University of Montana. Available http://btc.montana.edu/nten/tr.shtml.
Tannen, D. (1990). You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversations. New York: Ballantine.
University of Illinois. (1999). Teaching at an internet distance: the pedagogy of onlineteaching and learning. Report of a 1998-1999 University of Illinois Faculty Seminar.Available: http://www.vpaa.uillinois.edu/tid/report/tid_report.html.
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. 1995. Principles of Good Practice for Electronically Offered Academic Degree and Certificate Programs.
E-Learning Corgi focuses on distance training and education, from instructional design to e-learning and mobile solutions, and pays attention to psychological, social, and cultural factors. The edublog emphasizes real-world e-learning issues and appropriate uses of emerging technologies. Susan Smith Nash is the Corgi's assistant.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
Blog Archive
- 2022 ( 17 )
- 2021 ( 13 )
- 2020 ( 15 )
- 2019 ( 27 )
- 2018 ( 26 )
- 2017 ( 21 )
- 2016 ( 28 )
- 2015 ( 35 )
- 2014 ( 25 )
- 2013 ( 29 )
- 2012 ( 38 )
- 2011 ( 37 )
- 2010 ( 27 )
- 2009 ( 38 )
-
2008
(
79
)
-
June
(
10
)
- Jun 27 ( 1 )
- Jun 23 ( 1 )
- Jun 19 ( 1 )
- Jun 17 ( 1 )
- Jun 16 ( 1 )
- Jun 14 ( 1 )
- Jun 12 ( 1 )
- Jun 11 ( 1 )
- Jun 09 ( 1 )
- Jun 05 ( 1 )
-
May
(
9
)
- May 26 ( 1 )
- May 22 ( 1 )
- May 21 ( 1 )
- May 18 ( 1 )
- May 15 ( 1 )
- May 11 ( 1 )
- May 09 ( 1 )
- May 05 ( 1 )
- May 01 ( 1 )
-
March
(
9
)
- Mar 30 ( 1 )
- Mar 28 ( 1 )
- Mar 25 ( 1 )
- Mar 20 ( 1 )
- Mar 15 ( 1 )
- Mar 13 ( 1 )
- Mar 11 ( 1 )
- Mar 08 ( 1 )
- Mar 03 ( 1 )
-
June
(
10
)
-
2007
(
52
)
-
December
(
14
)
- Dec 31 ( 1 )
- Dec 27 ( 2 )
- Dec 24 ( 1 )
- Dec 23 ( 1 )
- Dec 19 ( 1 )
- Dec 17 ( 1 )
- Dec 16 ( 1 )
- Dec 10 ( 1 )
- Dec 06 ( 1 )
- Dec 05 ( 2 )
- Dec 03 ( 1 )
- Dec 02 ( 1 )
-
December
(
14
)
- 2006 ( 40 )