Quality online education – focus on the design and delivery

Quality online education – focus on the design and delivery By: EduSoldiers (Ebrahim Ally, E’daj Nesnaj & Haroun Emir) COVID-19 together with the proliferation of 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) has not only forced educational institutions at all level to scurry for the utilisation of online learning as an alternative to face-to-face classes. The common risk made by many institutions making the shift is that the teaching and learning process applied for online learning is a replica of that applied in face-to-face sessions. The question then is “which is better, online or face-to-face learning?”. To address this question it is important to acknowledge that there are significant difference between the two learning media used which are influenced, amongst others, by the technology used, the learning styles of learners and the teacher/lecturers teaching style.

Research conducted by Spiros Protopsaltis (Director of the Center for Education Policy and Evaluation at George Mason University) and Sandy Baum (Professor emerita of economics at Skidmore College) concluded “Faculty, academic leaders, the public and employers continue to perceive online degrees less favourably than traditional degrees." The report said its review of the evidence demonstrated that:  Online education is the fastest-growing segment of higher education and its growth is overrepresented in the for-profit sector (private institutions),  Students in online education, particularly underprepared and disadvantaged students, underperform and on average experience poor outcomes, and  Regular and substantive student-instructor interactivity is a key determinant of quality in online education, leading to improved student satisfaction, learning and outcomes.

The researchers concluded that a hybrid models of online learning avoid most of the pitfalls of fully online ones, at least when they feature strong in-person components and when online material and technology are used mostly as a supplement – blended learning methods.

The quality of online learning systems education institutions apply depends on the design and delivery of the teaching and learning process to achieve the desired outcomes. The following table represent the factors the impacts on the quality of online education systems and infrastructure: High quality online education Open: learning resources are accessible and available, including beyond that prescribed as well as available for use after the course Navigable: well-planned interfaces allow learners to find what they need (design and structure of the platform/technology used) Learning: sites are designed to develop knowledge, skills, attributes, and identity (develop competence rather than transferring knowledge content) Interactive: dialogue is supported amongst and between teachers and learners (engagement and shifting to student-centred learning is essential) Networked: curriculum and activities foster

Poor quality online education Obstructed: learning resources are controlled and restricted behind a curtain (limits the learning experience to the prescribed material) Nonsense: chaotic interfaces prevent learners from finding what they need (time wasting in navigating the platform) Lazy: sites are only about completion and do not promote positive change (learning process is content, and solution driven and limits the development of learners) Isolating: students feel alone, and often lonely, throughout the experience (same rules as face-to-face sessions are used as a criteria of success) Narrow: curriculum and activities are

broad-reaching connections (shifting from content and solution driven to principlesbased learning) Engaging: teachers invite, model, and sustain enthusiastic presence for learning (learning is driven by learners)

analogous to a locked filing cabinet (learning is limited to the prescribed material) Empty: teachers abandon the site and the overall experience is unfulfilling

The following evaluation tool can be used to assess existing online education course sites and set priorities for development and improvement.

High quality Open – learning resources are accessible and available Navigable – interfaces make it easy to find things Learning – develops skills, knowledge, and attributes Interactive – promotes teacher and student dialogue Networked – fosters broadreaching connection Engaging – teachers enthusiastically present

Cause There is not enough access to learning resources.

The interface could be improved for search and finding.

The site feels mostly about completion – content and exercise driven.

Mostly experienced alone, without others present.

Extends minimally beyond course site and curriculum.

Teachers/lecturers do not seem to care about the course or learners.

Poor quality Obstructed – resources are controlled and temporary Nonsense – interfaces do not make sense Lazy – site does not promote pos. development Isolating – experience is alone (sometimes lonely) Narrow – feels like a locked filing cabinet Empty – Overall experience is unfulfilling

Learners at tertiary institutions that they require and have the following expectations from a quality online learning experience: Online evaluation framework Open and Network

Navigable

Learning and Network

Interactive and Engaging

Learners’ expectations The curricular materials must be up-to-date and prepare them to be relevant in their chosen careers. Material and resources must be actively used throughout the course, in addition, links must be made to current research, updates on material in the respective field.

The structural interface and organisation of the course should be so straight-forward and intuitive that learners do not have to dedicate any mind-space to navigation or to finding what they are looking for.

Assessment instruments used to grade learners must be fair, relevant, reasonable, and clearly described.

Assessments should be designed such that learners are actively engaged in doing similar work to what they will be doing in-industry upon graduation. Effective feedback must be regular, clear, and specific, which can be iteratively applied to improving their performance.

Online learning should be motivational, exciting, and enjoyable driven by the enthusiasm of the teacher. The

learning resources must be chosen with care and assessment is active and involves doing.

In summary, a high-quality online education system must address the following:  The curricular materials and resources must be up-to-date and relevant supported by links to new developments in the specific fields.  The structural interface and organisation of all courses and resources should straightforward and not consume learning time and energy.  It is critical that assessments are creative, innovative, and practical in terms of preparing graduates for the world of work as well as clearly define the criteria for grading must be fair, relevant, and reasonable.  All forms of education should be motivating, exciting and enjoyable - they use online interactivity, visualisation and practice tools to foster learning and to provide feedback and specific instruction along the way.

In conclusion, high quality online education must apply strategic design and delivery aligned to the ONLINE framework discussed above.

Open Create material and resources which are updated and relevant with links from and to key industry research and websites.

Navigable Make the platform user friendly and easy to navigate by developing, sharing, and follow a consistent glossary of educational and technical terms.

Networked

Interactive Create a learning environment that Apply assessments instruments which encourages interactive and are fit-for purposes and provide clear engagement with dedicated guideline of assessment tools, grading discussion forums. criteria and feedback loops.

Learning Identify the key digital tools that graduates are likely to use in the workplace and career and include them in the course.

Engaging Create a learning environment that is free of intimidation and fear that promotes open and transparent engagement.

Reference: How to Design & Deliver Quality Online Education (Shelley Kinash, Director, Office of Learning & Teaching at Bond University