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The NUTN Quality Institute Benchmarking Distance Learning: A National Perspective and Strategy

The NUTN Quality Institute Benchmarking Distance Learning: A National Perspective and Strategy Richard T. Hezel, Ph.D. Josh Mitchell June 10, 2006. What’s “Quality?”. Quality in higher education: “I know it when I see it.” Ivy League arbiters of quality? Join the club.

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The NUTN Quality Institute Benchmarking Distance Learning: A National Perspective and Strategy

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  1. The NUTN Quality Institute Benchmarking Distance Learning: A National Perspective and Strategy Richard T. Hezel, Ph.D. Josh Mitchell June 10, 2006

  2. What’s “Quality?” • Quality in higher education: “I know it when I see it.” • Ivy League arbiters of quality? Join the club. • Regional accreditors (and their members) as judges • New accreditation outcomes assessment standards for academic programs and institutional development

  3. Quality is… • …whatever we say it is. • But it involves observation and measurement

  4. Genealogy of Quality Standards • Quality assumed in HE for most of its history. (Judith Eaton, CHEA) • Innovation (in technology) and accountability for funding drives the need to measure and prove quality • Application of corporate-focused quality concepts (Deming, Juran, Baldridge, Drucker, Marchese) • Establishment of standards for measurement of quality • HE slow to accept framework and vocabulary of quality from industry. • TQM and other systems have been seen as fads

  5. Quality process • Conceptual schema of “quality” for practical application of the term • Systematic and empirical testing of “quality” • “Quality” control for observation • Explanation of factors behind “quality” processes and best practices • [Like the process of natural and behavioral scientific research]

  6. Quality in distance learning • Experts determine standards • Practitioners? • Researchers? • WCET: “Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs” • Sloan-C: “The Sloan Consortium Quality Framework And The Five Pillars” • NUTN: Benchmarking research and IQAT

  7. Research on quality in distance learning • Research on quality in online instruction has been, primarily, within a course, program or single institution. • New research to explore characteristics of quality in distance learning

  8. The Challenge • Quality is contextual. • Definitions and metrics must be agreed upon and applied in context. • Example: • The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications • Subject Benchmark Statements • Quality Assurance Agency

  9. NUTN-Hezel Associates Benchmarking Quality Initiative • Benchmark framework research: 3/05-6/05 • Focused benchmark research: 6/05-11/05 • IQAT development: 12/05-present

  10. NUTN-Hezel Associates Benchmarking Quality Initiative • Key questions: • What are colleges/universities measuring? • What are they benchmarking? • What do they think are the most important elements to benchmark? • What would be useful to benchmark internally and externally?

  11. Survey Results • Key findings: • 54% say they’re benchmarking • But, few similarities in the types of institutions being benchmarked against • Benchmarking by convenience • Unsystematic “benchmarking”

  12. IQAT helps distance learning leaders measure and manage change.

  13. What IQAT Offers • Defines quality operationally, providing a foundation of comparison administrators can use to make informed decisions • Builds on the distance learning community standards as the baseline for continuous improvement • Reinforces outcomes assessment and facilitates the valuation process

  14. Next Steps • Join us at Monday’s technology forum for IQAT launch • Subscribe at www.IQAT.org • Special pricing for NUTN attendees • Compare your institution against others in the database • Tell your friends about IQAT • Snowball database growth

  15. For more information • Richard Hezel • richard@hezel.com • Josh Mitchell • josh@hezel.com • Hezel Associates, LLC • Syracuse, NY • 315 422 3512

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