E-learning Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Taiwan Tony C. T. Kuo, Ph.D. Associate Prof., Chairman Dept. of Information and Management National Open University, Taiwan 2018/7/19

E-learning has become extremely popular Advantages of e-learning Convenience? Flexibility? Provide adaptive learning? Scability? …

What is E-learning?

Is E-learning always good for students? Bad experiences on e-learning? Low-quality media? Boring contents or bad instructional design? Bad user interface of e-learning platform? Feel lonely in learning?

What is a good e-learning course? How to evaluate the quality of a course? How to evaluate the quality of a e-learning course? E-learning needs quality assurance

E-learning quality assurance in Taiwan Clear standards and certification processes Recognized by the majority of universities as well as the community in Taiwan E-learning accredition center, since 2006 E-learning courses E-learning materials Master program by E-learning Items of Accreditation

The establishment of E-learning accreditation standards Collections of relevant literature Indicators analysis and screening Prototype indicators Indicator revisions and classification Accreditation specifications and standards

Indicators for course accreditation Dimension 1:course description(3r2o) Dimension 2:learnig motivation keeping(2r2o) Dimension 3:interaction of learner and material(3r3o) Dimension 4:interaction of learner and teacher(3r3o) Dimension 5:interaction between learners(1r3o) Dimension 6:evaluation(3r3o) Dimension 7:services of instructional management(2r3o) Dimension 8:LMS platform(1r) 37 indicators (18r,19o)

How to pass the accreditation The grading system Each indicator includes 3 levels: A+, A, B The achievement of accreditation requires All required indicators should be at least grade A Each dimension’s indicators should be at least grade A in average

Indicator 4-4 D O M A I N 4 R 4-4 The instructor can respond well to learner’s question in the discuss forum in time A+: within two days A : within a week B : more than a week or not respond

Objective and rigorous assessment for accreditation process 2 e-learning specialists 2 field experts Four examining committees 2-3 weeks to complete the assessment Consensus meeting Assessment process

Statistics of E-learning course accreditation Year No. of Courses Applied for Pass (passing rate) 2006 115 37 (32%) 2007 80 6 (8%) 2008 41 34 (83%) 2009 38 22 (58%) 2010 57 36 (63%) 2011 87 58 (67%) 2012 86 49 (57%) 2013 34 (43%) 2014 93 49 (53%) 2015 97 56 (58%) 2016 112 71 (63%) 2017 89 47 (53%) Total 974 499(51%)

Accreditation standard is not just a standard, but also a good guideline to help teacher conducting a high quality e-learning course

Top 5 failed indicators 4-3(R)：Positive asynchronous interaction between instructor and learners 5-3(O)：Positive synchronous interaction among leaners 5-4 (O)：Positive synchronous interaction between instructor and learners 4-7(O)：Online assistant service is provided 4-4(R)：The instructor can respond well to learner’s question in the discuss forum in time

http://ace.moe.edu.tw

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