Quality Assurance and Quality Enhancement in e-LearningConference

2 July 2010

Fielder Centre, University of Hertfordshire

Quality Assurance and Quality Enhancement in E-learning Special Interest Group (QE-SIG)

Background•HEA/JISC Pathfinder programme▫Various projects focusing on quality and enhancement

•Quality Enhancement agenda

•From Pedagogic Research to Embedded E-learning (PREEL), Institute of Education, London

From Pedagogic Research to Embedded E-learningPREEL

THE STORY

Institutional support•Benchmarking exercise sent strong signals to senior management

•Funding helped to open doors

•Links with a wide range of initiatives - TDA, TQEF, JISC, HEA, CETL – added to the visibility of the project

Research•Relationship with practice is many faceted

•Research focus raised project profile

•Research focus fed into institutional agendas

•Presenting research evidence to tutors

•Tools of more interest than the results

Course redesign•Two different constituencies

•Serialist versus holist approaches

•Redesigns often alongside other institutional changes

•Problems encountered rarely technological

Quality assurance•Need for different quality assurance methods

•Effectiveness affected by organisational context and online features of the courses

•Need for a different organisational perspective

KEY MESSAGES

Background•The Institute of Education•Benchmarking•From Pedagogic Research to Embedded E-learning

Linking research and practice•Relationship between research and practice

•Research review and staff development

Course re-design•Externalisation of pedagogic design•Communication, activities and structures

Supporting the re-design process•Individualised support•Explicit project focus and networking

Pathfinder Network Project

Project teamInstitute of EducationUniversity of London

Dr Harvey MellarDr Magdalena Jara

University of Reading Maria-Christiana Papaefthimiou

University of Derby Dr Dave O'Hare

University of London External System

Brian Sayer

University of Teesside Dr Eileen Webb

Quality Assurance Agency

Dr David Cairns

Effective application of quality assurance procedures to e-learning courses - PREEL 2

The CHALLENGE - differences between e-learning and campus-based learning that impact on QA/QE• Disaggregation of course elements• Teams include a range of roles,

often in different places• Greater openness of processes to

review• Limited access by staff to students

PROJECT COLLABORATION• Institute of Education, University

of London• University of Reading• University of Derby• University of Teesside• University of London External

System• Quality Assurance Agency

Development of RESOURCES• Case studies• Course evaluation resources• Analysis of QAA Audits• Review of research• Database of QA/QE procedures

for e-learning courses

AIMS of institutional workshops• Identify the challenges in

addressing QA/QE for e-learning• Review internal quality assurance

procedures• Review contribution of research

and good practice• Identify ways forward

Project blog - http://www.lkl.ac.uk/research/qa-elearning

Development of QA-QE SIG Mission: ” This practitioner-led SIG aims to invigorate QA-QE and make it relevant to everyday practice in enhancing teaching, learning and assessment through technology.”

http://www.qe-sig.net

Launch May 08ALT-C 2008

Quality Assurance and Quality Enhancement in E-learning Special Interest Group

The SIG is a group of practitioners, both academic and professional support staff, interested in using technology to enhance the quality of learning, teaching and assessment.

This practitioner-led SIG aims to invigorate QA-QE and make it relevant to everyday practice in enhancing teaching, learning and assessment through technology.

QAQE SIGMission•To aggregate, share and synthesise current and

emerging knowledge and practice in quality enhancement related to the use of technology to enhance learning

•To build synergies between Higher Education Institutions and with other external sector agencies

•To influence local and national policy

QAQE in e-Learning Special Interest Group: Steering Group Members

• Eileen Webb, (Chair) Teesside University

• Maria-Christiana Papaefthimiou, (Deputy Chair) University of Reading

• Helen Barefoot, University of Hertfordshire

• Mark Gamble, University of Bedfordshire

• Judith Kuit, University of Sunderland

• Harvey Mellar, Institute of Education, University of London

• Barbara Newland, Glasgow Caledonian University

• David O’Hare, University of Derby

• Martin Oliver, Institute of Education, University of London

• Previous members: Brian Sayer, University of London, Peter Chatterton, e-Daedalus, Magdalena Jara, Institute of Education, University of London

Activities• Resources

▫ Case studies, Course evaluation resources, QAA reports, Guidelines,

▫ Reviews of research, Lessons from QAA audits, Useful web links

• Workshop: "Effective application of quality assurance & enhancement procedures to e-learning courses" ▫ Designed by SIG members and delivered both nationally and

internationally• Events , Conferences , 1st annual conference

▫ Linking with ELESIG▫ Invited presentations by JISC

• Project –funded by HEA

While some members of the SIG were involved in wheeling and dealing

but some just could not be persuaded to take things seriously.

outside the e-Learning Deanship building in Riyadh

others sat in regal splendour in discussion with the world’s princes,

QAQE project• Develop a commentary and critique of the

QAA Code of Practice Section 2 (QAA 2004)

• Develop a trainer’s on-line toolkit for ‘Quality enhancement of collaborative provision and flexible and distributed learning including eLearning’

• Hold the first of its annual conferences in conjunction with the HEA (July 2nd University of Hertfordshire)

Thanks

•Steering Group•143 SIG members•HEA, JISC, QAA•Terry Mayes, Peter Chatterton, and

Paul bascish, Derek Morrison, Peter Findlay David Cairns

•All of those who have been supporting this work!