USA - National Standards of Quality for Online Courses are released
WASHINGTON - September 13, the North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL) released a new publication, National Standards of Quality for Online
Courses.
The standards selected are based on the results of a research review and
survey of online course quality criteria. These quality standards were
evaluated and assembled into an easy to use document for evaluating online
courses with common benchmarks.
"Our overall goal is to ensure that every student has access to the highest
quality education available today. Standards help ensure the quality and
consistency of online learning in K-12," said Susan Patrick, President and
CEO of NACOL. "The National Standards of Quality for Online Courses offers
an important measuring tool to help policy leaders, schools, and parents
across the nation evaluate course quality and implement best practices."
NACOL conducted a comprehensive review of course standards available. Based
on this review, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Standards for
Quality Online Courses, used by the 16 states in the southern United States
is adopted as the source for the NACOL National Standards for Quality for
Online Courses. NACOL added a standard to include 21st Century Skills.
"The use of the Web (online learning) to provide academic courses is
extremely important to students everywhere. For online learning to expand
and grow, students, parents and policy- and decision-makers need assurance
that the online courses are of quality. If providers of online courses meet
these standards, there is little doubt that online learning will grow
rapidly," said Bill Thomas, Director of Educational Technology, SREB. NACOL
is building upon and validating the quality online learning/virtual school
work of SREB to help programs nationally.
As a proven, practical method to enhance the critical learning experience,
K-12 online learning is growing rapidly, 30% annually. Online learning
levels the playing field for all students to access high quality courses and
teachers.
The National Standards of Quality for Online Courses are available on
NACOL's website: www.nacol.org/nationalstandards/ (URL:
http://www.nacol.org/nationalstandards/.
Courses.
The standards selected are based on the results of a research review and
survey of online course quality criteria. These quality standards were
evaluated and assembled into an easy to use document for evaluating online
courses with common benchmarks.
"Our overall goal is to ensure that every student has access to the highest
quality education available today. Standards help ensure the quality and
consistency of online learning in K-12," said Susan Patrick, President and
CEO of NACOL. "The National Standards of Quality for Online Courses offers
an important measuring tool to help policy leaders, schools, and parents
across the nation evaluate course quality and implement best practices."
NACOL conducted a comprehensive review of course standards available. Based
on this review, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Standards for
Quality Online Courses, used by the 16 states in the southern United States
is adopted as the source for the NACOL National Standards for Quality for
Online Courses. NACOL added a standard to include 21st Century Skills.
"The use of the Web (online learning) to provide academic courses is
extremely important to students everywhere. For online learning to expand
and grow, students, parents and policy- and decision-makers need assurance
that the online courses are of quality. If providers of online courses meet
these standards, there is little doubt that online learning will grow
rapidly," said Bill Thomas, Director of Educational Technology, SREB. NACOL
is building upon and validating the quality online learning/virtual school
work of SREB to help programs nationally.
As a proven, practical method to enhance the critical learning experience,
K-12 online learning is growing rapidly, 30% annually. Online learning
levels the playing field for all students to access high quality courses and
teachers.
The National Standards of Quality for Online Courses are available on
NACOL's website: www.nacol.org/nationalstandards/ (URL:
http://www.nacol.org/nationalstandards/.
uehlers - 18. Sep, 06:28
