QualiNet
Developing an Evaluation
Model for Quality in
e-Learning
A Research Proposal on Quality in eLearning
08/02/2005
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.
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 elearning practices
Rationale
• Which are the dimensions of quality in e-learning?
• Is the concept of quality related to the different developed concepts of elearning?
• 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?
Stakeholders
Corporate
Employers
Virtual Univ.
Administrators
Print+Online
Students
Faculty
Blended F2F
Summary
Values & beliefs
Course comparison / Key indicators
Members
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)
Other institutions involved
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
Print & Online Model
UNED
OU The Netherlands
Other institutions involved
Virtual model
UOC
Other institutions involved
Corporate sector
Not defined yet
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
Issues
Data management
Identification of key people for information
Generalisation
Current statuts
Proposal is being written
Initial agreements have been done
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)
Current funded projects
eQuality (e-Learning Call) 2004-06
Eenovate (Socrates Minerva) 2004-2006
Netlab Teleobservatory (Spanish MCYT)
2004-05
RP&UV (Tempus) 2005