Bringing Quality to Online Courses
For a long time people have regarded online learning as the poor relation, a cheap way of training people. And it is. If you put up a video of a session online and leave students to their own devices. There are many who have experienced signing up to an online course only to receive a folder of information / workbook with assignments. Assignments are either emailed or uploaded to a portal with a message stating it can take up to 2 months to receive feedback, and when feedback is finally given it is a standard ‘good work’ response.
Covid has enabled more evaluation of online provision and potential learners are now asking questions about support and accreditation of online courses. This is where quality assurance is important – a process that monitors and evaluates training to ensure standards are being met.
By introducing three levels of quality, providers can:
Improve competence of trainees
Raise the skills level of employees
Give confidence to employers
Equality in e-learning means equality of opportunity.
Quality in Teaching
The first level of quality. Teachers measure the skills and knowledge of their learners. This measurement is against set standards approved by industry sectors. Assessing is a separate skill from teaching and teachers need to be trained as assessors to ensure they know how to make appropriate decisions, especially as teachers’ decisions on student’s levels of competence are taken into account when social distancing and lockdowns have made traditional exams difficult to carry out.
The assessment cycle is a process that follows the teaching or training and involves planning, implementing, giving feedback and recording the decision.
Quality in Assessment
The second level of quality. Internal quality assurers (IQAs) verify the work the assessors have carried out. This is to ensure standardisation of the decisions made and to monitor the level of work produced by the learner. IQAs support their assessors to deliver training that meets national/international standards.
Quality Verified and Validated
The third level of quality is to protect the integrity of the accrediting organisation. The work carried out by the internal quality assurer and assessors is evaluated by an independent verifier from outside the training provider. This is usually a person representing an awarding organisation to ensure certificates issued are for work of consistent high quality.
So, what are the qualifications for quality?
To ensure all teaching courses are being carried out to required standards, there are three qualifications that result in a licence to practice:
1 – Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement – for assessors
2 – Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment – for internal verifiers
3 – External Quality Assurance of Assessment – for external verifiers
All have a knowledge component that can be delivered online and a practical element that can be observed using digital technology.
Everyone Benefits from Quality
Learners are being taught to the necessary standard of competency
Teachers can be confident they are teaching relevant material
Assessors can monitor the progress of their learners
Training providers can be confident their courses are fit for purpose
Awarding organisations can be assured their qualifications are meeting their requirements
Employers can be confident that employees are well-trained and competent