Posters
AN INTEGRATIVE QUALITY ASSURANCE FRAMEWORK FOR E-LEARNING CONTENTS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN KOREA Yong Kim, Korea National Open University, South Korea In this paper, we discuss our research framework of a quality assurance framework that is centred on the learners and developers. This work has given rise to the belief that an integrative framework for quality assurance is an influential and flexible means for examining the quality of various educational contents and services. It is in this way that an integrative framework can be used to deal with the issues above by providing prompt and plausible reflections on the change of content development and delivery technologies. The plausibility of the quality assurance framework can make it possible to contend with various conditions and circumstances in e-learning contexts.
Study Phases To develop an integrative quality assurance system for major educational contents, we followed a three-stage approach. First, we defined a possible research framework for the present study to integrate each quality assurance process and component in order to evaluate educational contents. In this stage, we conducted literature reviews for each service by possible technology services. In the process, we found common components and characteristics for each service. Second, we discussed and extracted core components to establish a standard for quality assurance; we allocated each component into a specific domain (including usability assurance, quality assurance, and technical assurance); and then we specified the comprehensive and relevant components. Third, we developed an integrative framework using the core components and examined how the framework can create a comprehensive understanding in most quality assurance processes in domestic and foreign countries with regard to e-learning services and educational contents.
Result of Study We defined three dimensions to evaluate the e-learning contents in an integrative framework: usability assurance, quality assurance, and technical assurance. • Usability Assurance: Usability assurance is a key dimension in ensuring a learner’s success. To examine the usability assurance, one should ask how much the content in the service can support the user’s learning. In addition, usability assurance includes the satisfaction level of the user with the contents. This domain consists of learning plan, learning efficiency, learning convenience, learning satisfaction, learning outcomes, learning accessibility and learning communications. • Quality Assurance: Quality assurance is another key dimension in the integrative quality assurance framework; it focuses on securing minimum quality of a system’s contents for educational purposes. This domain consists of content development, content development method, copyright and ethicality. • Technical Assurance: This dimension encompass the standardized components for contents (e.g. metadata), and examines whether systems minimize errors when executing the contents. This domain consists of metadata, e-portfolio, general web service specification, learning tools interoperability, question and test interoperability and integrity.
Educational Implications The framework developed in this study is focused on the contents in the Korean education system and is based on a new information technology context. We believe that this paper will contribute to the design of a plan for e-learning quality assurance at the national level by presenting the following: (a) how to cope with quality assurance despite multiple assurance criteria and contexts, (b) the essential components to assure quality of e-learning and educational resources, and (c) how to design the framework in a way that integrates various quality assurance criteria and processes.
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