TOWARDS QUALITY IN E-LEARNING QUALITY ASSURANCE - EPPROBATE INTERNATIONAL COURSEWARE LABEL

Marjan Miloshevic Danijela Miloshevic

Technical Faculty Čačak - University of Kragujevac, Čačak, Serbia {marjan, danijela}@tfc.kg.ac.rs

Suzana LoshkovskaFaculty of Computer Science and Engineering Skopje, Macedonia

[email protected]

Quality of E-learning Certification approaches and quality

schemes DL@WEB – BADEN EpprobateoAim, objectiveso ProcedureoSelf-assessment documentoEvaluation

Conclusion

2http://www.badennet.org


The standard quality assurance (QA) procedures are not sufficient

QA in e-learning is generally not a priority issue, even for QA agencies

Numerous international projects were conducted to form a comprehensive, yet usable framework for quality assurance of learning.

Specialized organizations have developed their own benchmarking procedures and tools and established labels as brands


There are several definitions of quality of e-learning, and each depends on its scope, objectives, focus and the methodology of the quality approach.

In this context, quality of e-learning is related to all: processes, products and services for learning, education and training supported by the use of information and communication technologies


We need ◦ an unified label

We have...◦ Language issues◦ Cultural differences◦ Law issues


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Label name Level Review process Type Reviewers

UNIQUe Universities Publicly documented, on site Quality mark Internal

E-xcellence

University program

Publicly documented; on-line and on-site

(optionally)Benchmark Internal

ECBCheck University program

Documents and accompanying web-site are in construction phase

Quality Mark Internal

SEVAQ+ Universities, Vocational

studies

Supporting documents and web-site are are

available; on-line

Self-evaluation

tool

Stakeholders (teachers,

students, ...)

ProcertCourseware

for IT specialists

Documents are not publicly available Benchmark N/A

epprobate General courseware

Quality grid is public; review conducted on-line Quality Mark Internal and

external

http://www.badennet.org

BAlkan Distance Education Network Formed as result of DL@Web Tempus Project BASIC GOALS:

◦ Affirmation and use of professional knowledge via e-learning and distance education

◦ Tuning into The European Higher Education Area (EHEA)

◦ Development of informatics society in the region


http://www.badennet.org 9

FULL TITLE: ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF DISTANCE LEARNING AT WESTERN BALKAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

http://www.dlweb.kg.ac.rs

Modernization of education by promoting regional and international cooperation

Raising the level of pedagogical and technical knowledge

Raising social awareness about the significance of e-learning and distance learning

Fostering and cherishing research spirit in the field…


Education through professional and research seminars and summer schools

Organization of professional lectures, trainings, symposiums and conferences with topics about e-learning and distance education

Promotion of distance learning through cooperation and participation on manifestations of domestic, regional and international importance

Participation in realization of projects at national, regional and international level

Promoting and placing of innovative and creative professional and research solutions


Carrying out commercially readymade solutions, individual courses or moderation services

Publishing activity from the primary and related fields

Creating and continual improvement of electronic knowledge basis from the fields of e-learning and distance education

Promotion of the lifelong learning concept Creating and realizing accredited programs for

professional training of the employed in education


epprobate (from the Latin 'approbare', to approve) is the first international quality label for eLearning courseware

The quality label is an initiative of three organisations: ◦ Learning Agency Network (LANETO) ◦ Agence Wallonne des Télécommunication (AWT) ◦ e-Learning Quality Service Center (eLQSC)



All kinds od courseware:◦ Web based◦ Mobile◦ Blended◦ Game based◦ OER...

Educational institutions◦ Universities, High Schools◦ Non-formal education facilities

Individual courseware producers Companies…


Receive feedback and consultation

Ensure compliance with state of the art quality measures

Get international recognition for your

courseware

Increase the trust in your courseware


Since July 2012. BADEN is authorized to certify courseware at behalf of epprobate for Serbia, FYR Macedonia and Montenegro

BADEN has two certified head reviewers...


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Producers contact national partner (BADEN for Serbia, FYRM, Montenegro)

First step is self-assessment http://review.epprobate.com Review is conducted by a 4 member TEAM, coordinated by

head reviewer Target group is represented by one team member The review process is done using the epprobate quality

grid


http://review.epprobate.com/

The team decision is built on a concensus There is intensive communication between

producer and the team International awarding committee is responsible for

the final decision about the awarding of the epprobate label


Review is not just a “tick list”!

The feedback to the courseware provider is more important than simply a decision about the label


Criteria are organized into four main sections of the quality grid: ◦ Course design (Provision of course information,

learning objectives; Constructive alignment) ◦ Learning design (Learner Needs; Personalisation;

Instructional strategies) ◦ Media design (Media Integration; Interface;

Interoperability and technological standards) ◦ Content (Accuracy and values of content;

Intellectual property rights; Legal compliance)


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For each topic the producer fills information in the following table

Example


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For each topic, each reviewer fills information in the following table

There is no intention for any single criterion to be essential, but a courseware supplier in their self assessment document indicates to what extent they meet a specific criteria.

To every characteristic is assigned a mark:A - Exceeds the requirements of the criterionB - Meets the requirements of the criterionC - Meets some but not all of the requirements of the criterionD - Fails to meet the requirements of the criterion



There is a certain progress made in quality assurance in e-learning. ◦ The challenges remains to be faced with, such as

internationalization and usage of objective and comprehensive – yet not too complex – methodology.


Epprobate is an initiative that tries to handle mentioned challenges ◦ It is an international label, which engages

numerous national partners, ◦ it treats e-learning at the courseware level,

making the QA available to different types of producers (universities, education agencies, companies) and

◦ it uses a methodology that compounds all vital criteria through a well defined procedure


http://epprobate.com


http://www.dlweb.kg.ac.rs


Questions


TOWARDS QUALITY IN E-LEARNING QUALITY ASSURANCE - EPPROBATE INTERNATIONAL COURSEWARE LABEL

Documents

quality of distance

quality of e

quality assurance of

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significance of e

definitions of quality

quality approach

distance educationtuning