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UA Distance Learning

Course Quality

CDE Course Quality Improvement Program (Semester-based Online courses)

(phase 1)

As part of a continuing effort to improve the success of our students, and in recognition of many critical success factors that CDE instructors have demonstrated through their teaching, CDE has created a guidelines and procedures document (CDE Quality Improvement Program Guidelines & Procedures: Semester Based, Online Courses) codifying existing best practices for CDE Instructors that will be integrated into semester-based online courses.

The current guidelines apply only to semester-based online classes. If you do not teach such a class, consider this an informational document that will likely resemble future guidelines to be formulated for other course types and terms.

For the most part, these guidelines and procedures do not require significant changes to existing courses. We will be working with each of our course developers to make the necessary changes, starting with new course developments and revisions that are currently in progress, then continuing with rest of CDE semester-based online courses individually over the next year.

These guidelines and procedures were developed by CDE administration, student services and the instructional design team, with the assistance of UAF & CRCD representatives. The guidelines were then revised based on feedback from a group of current CDE Instructors. We welcome comments and suggestions at any time. Future contributions will be considered for later guideline revisions.

What about phase 2? Expect to see Quality Improvement Guidelines for Yearlong Print and Online courses coming soon.

The CDE Course Design Rubric

This course design rubric is meant to be a tool for evaluating course renewal as well as new course development. This rubric focuses on the dynamics of electronic communication, particularly web-based opportunities, but does not presuppose any specific technology. Purposeful selection of course delivery methods enhances the quality of distance courses and provides effective learning outcomes.

The CDE Course Development Checklist

This checklist will be used as a communication tool between instructional designers and course developers. This is a working draft, still under development. The checklist was used to evaluate new courses being developed beginning Fall 2007. Revision made in Summer 2009 adds updated features that have emerged.