Distance Learning Standards

Higher Learning Commission (HLC)AQIP Quality Check-up

•Requires quality assurance oversight of distance education activities.

HLC Change Visit

•Uniformity, Design, Continuous Improvement

DLFAB Led Collaboration• Conducted survey• Shared results with stakeholders• Seek feedback from AGC• Seek approval of academic policy• Assist with periodic review of standards

Next Steps

• AGC Table Discussion of Proposed Standards and Policy (Feb)

• Review Feedback (Mar)• AGC Vote on Proposed Policy (Apr)• Implementation and Review

Previous Table Discussion

Purpose: Provide initial feedback on proposed policy and standards.

Method: Review each standard and answer table discussion question.

Result: Written or e-mail gbrand@grcc.edu.

Advantages• Standards require interactions.• Standards are needed.• Standards are open ended enough.• Standards relate to assessment.• Standards lead to consistency.• Courses will be more effective.

Concerns• Who is monitoring the courses?• Student readiness is important too.• Terminology/language (grading policy "stated

clearly", assessment, learning outcomes, interaction with who and how)

• Need resources (accessibility, IT Infrastucture).

Clarification

• Office hour requirements (1)• Example of each standard (1)• How will standards be operationalized? (3)• How will faculty demonstrate compliance

with the standards? (3)

Clarification• Can faculty have an option on how they organize

his/her content? (by weeks, by units, etc) (4)• Do faculty need a purpose in each folder/week? (4)• Change standard 4 to ‘instructional strategies and

course materials’. (4)• Add ‘and activities’ (4)

Clarification• Courses should have grading rubrics. (5)

• Standard around instructor presence in discussion board. (5)

• What does instructor response time mean? (5)

• Clarify what instructor feedback means. (5)

Clarification• What is academic freedom in an online class? (6)• Do Essential Abilities Documents trump accessibility

documents? (8) • What does readability mean? (fonts, file types) (8)• Clarify ‘who will be the judge’ of clarity. (8)• How assessments and outcomes are related. (8)

Support

• Template• Rubric• Design help• Examples/Models

Missing/Comments• More detail (criteria), template needed.• Need student and campus standards.• Who do they apply to (adjunct, full-time)?• Course must match Curriculog.• Faculty must be responsive to students.• Need training and support for faculty

Follow-up

• Add glossary and examples if approved.• Add instructor contact, feedback and

interaction expectations.• Address academic freedom.• Make suggested changes to Standard 4.

Proposed PolicyAll online and hybrid courses will adhere to the GRCC Distance Learning Standards. The Distance Learning Faculty Advisory Board will review these standards on an annual basis. The AGC will approve any recommended changes.

Timeline• Feb 10 – AGC Meeting (1 of 3)• Feb 20 – Feedback for March Meeting• Mar 10 – AGC Meeting (2 of 3)• Apr 03 – Feedback for April Meeting• Apr 10 – AGC Vote (3 of 3)

Feedback/Questions

Distance Learning Faculty Advisory Board

c/o Garry Brand, Chair

gbrand@grcc.edu