Quality Management in Web-based Learning - A Finnish perspective Kristiina Karjalainen Lappeenranta University of Technology WebCT Executive Seminar EDEN Conference 21 June 2005

Structure and contents of presentation About the project Defining quality VLE as a quality factor Quality manual: main idea and contents

Quality Management in Web- based Learning-project A joint venture between three universities in Finland – University of Helsinki (coordinator), University of Kuopio, Lappeenranta University of Technology Funded by the Ministry of Education Finnish Virtual University project

Main goal of the project To support and enhance quality management in e-learning, and to develop quality consciousness and expertise among university personnel and their commitment to the quality management work

The schedule of the project Steering group, follow-up and evaluation Development of quality service Enhancement of quality consciousness Year 2004 Year 2005 Year 2006 Year 2007 ResearchQuality manual and portal / web pages Piloting University funding negotiations Online questionnaires Interviews Workshops Report Seminars Workshops Developme nt of portal Testing Reporting Dissemination Seminars Dissemination Seminars Training

Defining teaching and learning online Bates T. & Ojala T. & VOPLA %0% 100 % Contact teachin g Online learning Mixed modes Electronic administration services VOPLA Web-supported contact teaching Blended web- based learning Use of the Web

Defining quality Quality management –building and managing quality systems, evaluation and development Quality assurance – assuring quality of processes by building quality criteria and methods

Defining quality in e-learning research on national and international quality assurance models e.g. Sloan-C, QAA quality criteria are developed for purposes of each individual country some common criteria are organisatorial quality, course development, learning and teaching, student support services, evaluation methods the project team concentrated on defining quality of e-learning and teaching, online materials and teacher and student support services

Quality factors for e-learning Vopla 2004 student orientation student activity meaningful learning situations constructivism reflection contextualization transfer interactivity feedback and evaluation authentic materials and exercises adaptability of information adequate and well-timed support support services providing help in production, maintenance and training of VLE(s) support the development and planning of learning processes

VLE as a quality factor Lappeenranta University of Technology uses and supports WebCT as the VLE for e-learning in use since 2002, version 4.1 updated recently, version 6.0 autumn 2005 approx users, courses is used for information delivery channel, materials bank, blended learning and 100% online learning using one VLE, we can concentrate on developing the support services for it using one VLE  courses recognisable to users

VLE as a quality factor 2 + working WebCT help and support for teachers and students + encouraging feedback from students  VLE works when the learning process is well thought of and created in WebCT + new version will bring more advanced tools for e-learning (group work, course admin, etc.) + support personnel committed to help teachers build pedagogically sound courses - older versions did not support all ideas that teachers might have had for their courses - the system too heavy if used only for information delivery channel  a portal for course information pages under development

Concept of the quality manual Q2  Quest for Quality an overall view on quality management in e-learning based on the most common quality management systems  can be linked with the organisations general quality management system combines information and knowledge on quality management in e-learning a tool for improving e-learning quality the tool incorporates the main contents of quality management in e-learning and shows the phases of quality management work clear paths for different users (director, teacher, support person) displays basic questions to improve quality in one’s own work

Quality manual: contents introduction to quality management usage instructions quality matrices process descriptions quality criteria quality indicators examples of measuring tools

Quality Manual for e-learning - matrix of contents and phases Phase How? Documenting present activities Defining criteria and measurement tools Implementation and improvement Management How is e-learning connected to university, faculty and department strategies? How does e-learning support achieving the goals set in strategies? How are strategical development plans improving e-learning? Skills What kind of ICT skills the staff holds? What kind of ICT skills is needed to achieve the goals set in the various strategies? How is development of staffs’ ICT skills evaluated? Resources What kind of resourses are available for e- learning? What kind of resources are needed to fulfil the strategic demans for e-learning? How are e-learning processes developed and allocated? Processes What kind of processes are included in e-learning? What are the key and support processes in e- learning? How are processes developed to meet customer needs? Evaluation How is e-learning evaluated? What are the criteria and indicators that are used in evaluating e-learning? How is the evaluation information utilized in development of e-learning? Content What?

Process description for e-learning / VOPLA-team and results of the first national workshop Planning Follow-up Start-up Implementation 1. Course curriculum -Target group -goals -contents -resources -methods -evaluation plan 2. Planning learning a process -learning outcomes - learning tasks - online materials - instruction and evaluation -scheduling 3. Media and choice of tools, copyright Production 5. Developing VLE 6. Content production 10. Accepting and transferring students to VLE 4.Planning information and marketing strategy 9. Enrolment and acceptance to course -Information tostudents 8. Information and marketing 12. Instructing students 13. Studying -f2f/online -independent -group 11. Facilities, equipment, software -checking -testing 14. Tutoring -pedagogical -technical -general 15. Evaluation -teacher and student 16. Study attainment - registering 18. Follow-up -facilities -equipment -invoicing -archiving and storage 17. Course evaluation -student feedback -peer evaluation -self-evaluation -analysis and further usage of feedback 7. Testing

Different user pathways Director Teacher Support person

Next steps Co-operation with other e-learning and quality projects in Finland – and abroad (?) Further development of the contents and usage of the quality manual National workshop Expert evaluation on quality manual Recruiting pilot projects for evaluation Dissemination of quality material Development of quality management portal

Thank you! More information: tel (mainly in Finnish)