Baker (2002) has developed some guidelines for assessing the quality of e-learning in Canada. These quality guidelines are generic and are therefore broadly applicable to any area and level of education. Following is a brief summary of these guidelines adapted to the specific needs of this project.
Learner management:
Instructional product/service information for potential learners is:
- Clear;
- Current;
- Accurate;
- Comprehensive;
- Complete; and
- Readily available.
Advertising, recruiting and admissions information includes:
- Pre-requisites and entry requirements;
- The program overview;
- Specific delivery format;
- Course level and credit points;
- Course length and degree requirements;
- Types of assignments and grading methods;
- Learning assessment procedures and evaluation criteria; and
- All applicable fees, if any.
Registration procedures that include:
- A clear statement of expectations of learners;
- An intake and placement procedures that provide for individualized program and assessment and recognition of prior learning; and
- An orientation procedure.
Management of learners’ records
- Document learners enroute and final achievement;
- Ensure confidentiality of records; and
- Give learners access to their records.
Technological support for the delivery and management of learning is:
- Navigable;
- Reliable;
- Sensitive to bandwidth constraints of students;
- Compliant with current technology and ICT standards;
- Appropriate to the subject matter content and skills;
- Appropriate to the intended learning outcomes;
- Appropriate to the characteristics and circumstances of the learner;
- Easily updateable and frequently updated;
- Designed to promote active learning;
- Designed to support prior learning;
- Designed to support collaborative learning and social networking;
- Designed to support flexible learning;
- Designed to include assistive devices for persons with disabilities; and
- Designed to assist learners to use the technology system for accessing the learning program.
Learning assessment is:
- Authentic;
- Competency-based;
- valid and reliable;
- Frequent and timely; and
- Immediate feedback to learners.
Instructional materials are:
- Designed and developed by experts;
- Learner friendly;
- Interesting in content;
- Appealing to learners;
- Well-organized;
- Free of cultural, racial, class, age, and gender bias;
- Accessible to those with disabilities;
- Free from errors; and
- Customizable and adaptable to learner needs and abilities.
Learning content is:
- Credible with sources identified;
- Accurate;
- Relevant; and
- Culturally sensitive;.
Learning package includes:
- Course description;
- Learning objectives;
- Assessment and completion requirements;
- Learning resources;
- Course activities and assignments;
- Quizzes and examinations; and
- Access to answers for questions/quizzes.
Appropriate and necessary personnel include:
- Qualified support staff with teaching experience and relevant work experience and/or current knowledge in the field;
- Appropriate skills for teaching online; and
- Process support persons.
Continuous improvements based on routine reviews and evaluation of:
- Learner support services;
- Course content and objectives;
- Learning materials;
- Instructional design;
- Student learning and student achievement;
- Policies and management practices;
- Operational procedures; and
- Learner satisfaction;