This document provides information about selecting quality electronic learning resources and reviewing online courses. It summarizes standards and reviews for online courses from organizations like the California Learning Resource Network (CLRN), iNACOL, and the Texas Virtual School Network. The document outlines standards for online course content, instructional design, student assessment, technology, and course evaluation/support. It describes CLRN's process for reviewing high school English/math courses based on Common Core alignment and providing feedback from educators and students.
4. Free
Web Information Links
• Reviews of 5,200 free and
commercial-free web sites
• Primary, secondary, &
reference materials
• Free software and web tools
• iPad & Android Apps
7. Not everything you read
on the Internet is true.
Or why all educational resources
should be vetted.
8. Virginia Textbook Scandal
Our Virginia: Past and Present
4th grade history text
Black soldiers fought for the South
6K died at the Battle of Bull Run
Actually, 22K
Hundreds of factual errors
Virginia’s review committee did not include
any trained historians
9. Online Course Quality
Content standard/Common Core alignment
Are they approved by the:
NCAA
College Board
UC a-g requirements
15. California Online Course
Reviews
• Search for standards
• CA stakeholder group selects and updates
iNACOL’s standards
• Collaboration with TxVSN & iNACOL
• iNACOL national stakeholder group
• iNACOL published, October 2012
17. Content
Content depth and breadth
Information literacy skills
Learning resources and materials
Communication process between
teachers, parents, and students
Content accuracy and bias
18. Instructional Design
Course design and organization
Meaningful and authentic learning
experiences
Multiple learning paths for students to
master the content
Higher-order thinking skills
Instructor-student and student-student
interactions; and supplemental tools and
resources.
19. Student Assessment
Alignment between the course goals
and activities and its assessment
strategies
Insure that there are adequate and
appropriate methods to assess
students
Assure that students are constantly
aware of their progress.
22. CLRN Online Course
Reviews
HS ELA & Math courses
Common Core and the original
recipe standards.
National standards for online
courses
Expanding to HSS, Science, &
VPA during spring, 2012
29. Feedback Questions:
Educator
To what extent does the online course
need to be supplemented with face-to-face
instruction and student support?
To what extent was ongoing and periodic
student performance assessment
accessible online for you to monitor student
progress?
Please list the major strengths or specific
improvements needed.
32. Feedback: Students
Course procedures were clearly posted.
Necessary information and materials were
received on time.
Instructions were clear for all materials and course
activities.
Assignment and test grades were provided in a
timely manner.
Instructor feedback was timely and frequent.
Students are offered an orientation
33. Feedback: Students
Course was well organized.
Activities supported course goals.
Course provided opportunities for students to learn
from each other.
There were frequent tests and quizzes that
reflected course content.
Discussion groups were generally well organized.
Course is appropriate for an online environment.
38. December 7th and 8th, 2012
Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa
http://elearns.org
@elearns
Notas del editor
How do you know whether an online course is high quality or if it addresses your state's academic content standards? Are the instructors for your students' courses certificated and have they received professional development to address the very different learning experiences observed online? Can you be assured that the NCAA will accept courses taken by your school's athletes to qualify them for college sports? Are Advanced Placement courses rigorous and meet the expectations of the College Board? Will the University of California accept student transcripts listing the online courses taken by your students?
Just as your district keeps tabs on content and instruction for each course, the same expectations should exist for online courses. How can you know that a course addresses all the content standards for a subject so that your students are prepared for state-mandated testing? Do you and your staff pilot each course and participate in all the activities so that you can verify the content standards and guarantee that a course meets California's social content review?
