QualiNet Developing an Evaluation Model for Quality in e-Learning

1. QualiNetDeveloping an Evaluation Model for Quality in e-Learning A Research Proposal on Quality in e-Learning 08/02/2005

2. Aim • To develop an evaluation model for quality in higher education e-learning courses. • Taking into account institutional, educational and technological perspectives of quality, we want to identify which are the key elements of a e-learning courses system which might ensure reliability, success, effectiveness and satisfaction for all the agents being part of the system.

3. Rationale • Quality is a commitment which integrates a set of elements and strategies leading to the continuous improvement. • There exist a considerable number of definitions and approaches on quality in e-learning • There are different agents involved in the educational process, not only from the pedagogical point of view, but also from the institutional one (fitting the mission, feasibility, social impact …) and the technological one (accessibility, usability …). • Different understanding of quality is being developed in e-learning practices

4. Rationale • Which are the dimensions of quality in e-learning? • Is the concept of quality related to the different developed concepts of e-learning? • Does a particular theoretical framework fit with quality in e-elearning? • Are there some cross-institutional and cross-educational e-learning practice key indicators which give us the most important information to predict and evaluate high/low quality standards? • Which are the beliefs and perception about quality from the different agents involved in e-learning courses (students, faculty, instructional designers, institutional managers, social stakeholders)? Is there some intersection in them? Which are the constituting elements of this intersection?

5. Summary Students Faculty Blended F2F Print+Online Corporate Virtual Univ. Administrators Employers Stakeholders Values & beliefs Course comparison / Key indicators

6. E. Barberà (Psyco) N. Cabrera (ADME) C. Fernández (IN3) E. Galindo (ADME) C. Girona (ADME) L. Guàrdia (Psyco) M. J. Martínez (Econ) J. Prieto (Comp. Sc.) A. Sangrà (Psyco) E. Serradell (Econ) M. Taulats (IxMng) Members

7. Blended e-learning model: Universitat de les Illes Balears (J. Salinas) Universitat Rovira i Virgili (M. Gisbert) Universidad de A Coruña (M. Glez.-Sanmamed) Universitat d’Alacant (G. Bernabeu, R. Roig) Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy University of Lugano, Switzerland Other institutions involved

8. Print & Online Model UNED OU The Netherlands Other institutions involved

9. Virtual model UOC Other institutions involved

10. Corporate sector Not defined yet Other institutions involved

11. Planned methodology • Literature review on the different current quality approaches in e-learning. • Mixed methodology • Case Study method • A set of courses of each block will be selected for their analysis (qualitative and quantitative) • Qualitative: students will be asked to fill in some questionnaires on satisfaction and interviews with faculty, administrators and employers will be done to identify their quality perspective. Focus groups are also foreseen to be applied. • Quantitative

12. Issues • Data management • Identification of key people for information • Generalisation

13. Current statuts • Proposal is being written • Initial agreements have been done

14. Current works • Different members are working in different projects, mainly based on: • What do students consider really important (M.J. Martínez; Ph.D. Thesis) • Quality as a value creation tool (E. Serradell) • Beyond “learning achievement”: teaching quality in a subject (J. Prieto) • Indicators for e-learning Quality (A.Sangrà, N. Cabrera, C. Girona)

15. Current funded projects • eQuality (e-Learning Call) 2004-06 • Eenovate (Socrates Minerva) 2004-2006 • Netlab Teleobservatory (Spanish MCYT) 2004-05 • RP&UV (Tempus) 2005