Standards for Designing Quality Online Courses.

This overview represents the standards and guidelines used by Michigan Virtual University in producing specifications for, and evaluating, e-learning.

More than a year ago, MVU began developing rigorous standards to guide the design and evaluation of online course quality. Based on decades of research and the work of the best minds in the field of Instructional Design, they have recently completed a comprehensive set of standards that can now be used to design and evaluate online courses.  

MVU takes a modular approach to OID (online instructional design), which will be briefly explained here.  

Our Philosophy of OID
Our standards are driven by our philosophy of Instructional Design, from which our general theory of OID and Principles are then derived and applied using a modular approach. These Principles dictate our approach to Analysis, Design and Evaluation for on-line instruction.

The following diagram should give you a clear overview of the application of OID standards at MVU (click on any portion for detailed information):

Components of Our Standards
As our Philosophy overview explains, MVU's OID standards are divided into four categories: Technology, Usability, Accessibility and Instructional Design. Each category is broken down into standards and sub-standards, which have a variety of attributes that are intended to help both the design and evaluation of online courses. The components of each standard are detailed below:  

Standards and Sub-Standards
Each one of our standards is carefully broken down into its smallest component part. For example, the Technology (T) category has three main standards, one of them being Identification of Technology Requirements (T1). This standard is then broken into 11 distinct sub-standards - for instance, Identification of Audio Capabilities (T1.3).

Measurement Criteria
Each standard has a Measurement Criteria that gives a description of how that standard should be met. For instance, the Measurement Criteria for T1.3 is that the actual audio requirements for the course are stated to the learner.

Benchmarks
Each standard’s measurement criteria will include Benchmarks that will give the evaluator general criteria and key things to look for in evaluating the standard.

Ratings
Each standard contains a rating that helps evaluators determine how well a course meets the various criteria.

Weight
Each standard is also given a weight. This is basically a determination of how vital a standard is to the functioning of a course. Our system applies one of three different weights to each standard:

·         Mild - A Mild weight represents a standard that is not vitally necessary to the functioning of a course.

·         Serious - A Serious weight represents a standard that is at least moderately important to the efficacy of the course.

·         Fatal - A Fatal weight represents a standard that is of vital importance to the efficacy of the course.

Prescriptions
Each standard also contains a Prescription. A Prescription is used as a corrective action when a standard is not met. Quite often, a Prescription will restate or further clarify the information provided in the Measurement Criteria.
 

Our OID standards encompass four categories.  Click on the menu item opposite for a more detailed description.

Technology Standards
This category is primarily involved with the functionality and appropriateness of the technology. The Technology category does not encompass such things as navigation, but rather issues of whether or not the technology works, if it¹s appropriate to the audience, etc.  

Usability Standards
This category also deals with technology, but goes beyond mere "does it work" issues and deals primarily with function as it pertains to promoting an optimal learning environment  

Accessibility Standards
This category is designed to ensure that courses which must or should be accessible meet the minimum requirements for accessibility. These standards are based on WAI's Priority 1 guidelines for basic Internet content.  

Instructional Design Standards
This category represents what is most often missed in on-line instruction. That is, is the material itself pedagogically sound? Our standards ensure that all necessary components of successful instruction are present; Explanation, Demonstration, Practice, Feedback and Assessment. Further, they ensure that content, practice and assessment are consistent with the type of skills and knowledge being taught, the stated or implied objectives of the instruction, as well as being consistent with each other.