Course Quality
We, at Academic Partnerships, consistently stress the importance of course quality when consulting with faculty. In our informal reviews, we apply research-based standards from Quality Matters and The Sloan Consortium. Through this service we provide our partner faculty, we evaluate the following areas of the course:
- Course Overview and Introduction – The overall design of the course is made clear to the student at the beginning of the course.
- Learning Objectives – Learning objectives are measurable and are clearly stated.
- Assessment and Measurement – Assessment strategies are designed to evaluate student progress by reference to stated learning objectives; to measure the effectiveness of student learning; and to be integral to the learning process.
- Instructional Materials – Instructional materials are sufficiently comprehensive to achieve stated course objectives and learning outcomes.
- Learner Interaction and Engagement – Forms of interaction incorporated in the course motivate students and promote learning.
- Course Navigation and Technology – Course navigation and technology support student engagement and ensure access to course components.
- Learner Support – The course facilitates student access to institutional support services essential to student success.
- Accessibility – The course demonstrates a commitment to accessibility for all students.
- Course Administration
For an informal quality review of your course, please contact your Academic Partnerships point of contact.
Guides to Course Quality
We have published two Guides to course quality. Click the links below to access these Guides:
- A Guide to Quality in Online Learning (English Version)
- Chinese Version – A Guide to Quality in Online Learning
- A Guide to Quality in Post-Traditional Online Higher Education
Additional Resources
For additional resources for best practices, we recommend the following organizations:
Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks (Sloan-C)
National Center for Education Statistics
Dept of Ed report: Understanding the Implications of Online Learning
Higher Education Trends to Watch for in 2013