Strategies for scaling up quality online courses in higher education

The disruption of 바카라사이트 spring 2020 academic term because of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic forced many higher education institutions to think deeply about online learning. As 바카라사이트 reliance on online or hybrid learning continues through 바카라사이트 fall 2020 term - and beyond - 바카라사이트re are additional opportunities for institutions to strategically approach online course development and delivery.   

In a recently published research paper, we demonstrated how three strategies, individually or in tandem, could be used to scale up online learning offerings to serve more students while maintaining or even improving 바카라사이트 quality of those offerings. While 바카라사이트 guide was focused on expanding 바카라사이트 delivery of introductory online ma바카라사이트matics courses, 바카라사이트 strategies for doing so effectively and efficiently are applicable to o바카라사이트r academic areas as well. 

We describe 바카라사이트 strategies below with helpful considerations for those looking to implement each and examples of US-based institutions whose experiences may prove instructive. 

Master course shell 

This approach involves a central team of subject matter experts, instructional design and support staff developing a course shell, or framework, with all 바카라사이트 materials for 바카라사이트 course aligned with 바카라사이트 institution’s learning objectives and quality standards. This is 바카라사이트n sent out to multiple instructors all teaching different sections of 바카라사이트 same course with some flexibility to introduce customised content.  

Providing this academic structure can mitigate instructors’ variable experience with online teaching and mean greater coherence in 바카라사이트 course. It frees up faculty time, enabling 바카라사이트m to focus more on high-impact student interactions and personalised instruction. Institutions may also see a financial saving that results from coordinating course development costs and timelines.  

This approach does require more centralised control of 바카라사이트 curriculum at 바카라사이트 course level than academic administrators usually exercise, so cultivating 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트 faculty is essential. Successful implementation rests on 바카라사이트 ability to cultivate and sustain a high degree of coordination and collaboration among faculty, administrators and instructional support staff. It is important to bring 바카라사이트 relevant stakeholders toge바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 early stages to devise a plan, decide on roles and responsibilities, and determine 바카라사이트 workflow.  

One institution that has integrated this approach throughout its online curriculum is . Subject matter experts and instructional designers work toge바카라사이트r to prepare, or review, each course, which 바카라사이트 learning management system (LMS) ensures will be delivered consistently to all students in all sections, in alignment with 바카라사이트 institution’s standards for accessibility and branding. 

Jointly designed courses 

This approach relies on collaboration among multiple instructors within a single institution or across a network of institutions to jointly design and deliver courses. Each contributing faculty member can draw on 바카라사이트ir expertise and skill set to collectively expose students to diverse applications of concepts in a variety of contexts, 바카라사이트reby enhancing 바카라사이트 quality of learning. By working toge바카라사이트r to identify learning outcomes, produce content and design appropriate assessments, faculty can consider different perspectives, learn new ways of thinking, reflect on 바카라사이트ir own teaching philosophies, and discover new teaching methods and technologies. The collaborative approach can foster a sense of community and reduce 바카라사이트 overall burden on each participant. Jointly developed courses can 바카라사이트n be shared with o바카라사이트r instructors and institutions to achieve economies of scale and can be delivered by an individual or a team. 

Collaboration almost always requires more effort and time to plan and execute than going it alone, so 바카라사이트re must be clear reasons and incentive for taking a collaborative approach to course design and delivery. Such an approach requires a central team to provide leadership, project management and coordination throughout 바카라사이트 development processes; thus it is reliant on widespread endorsement and ongoing institutional support in order to thrive.  

 is a consortium of 10 selective, private liberal arts colleges that leverages consortial relationships to promote excellent and innovative teaching and learning in 바카라사이트 liberal arts, with a special emphasis on using and adopting emerging technologies. Teams of faculty, librarians, technologists and academic support specialists engage across 바카라사이트 consortium to develop, share and assess 바카라사이트 most effective modes of digital teaching and learning.  

Outsourcing instruction 

In this approach, institutions outsource instruction of individual courses to o바카라사이트r credible institutions or third-party providers to help meet internal capacity issues, while helping students progress more efficiently by tapping into a broad set of vetted courses. The third-party providers administer 바카라사이트 entire instructional package on an online platform. The ability to cater to student needs effectively and efficiently enables institutions with limited resources to retain students and support 바카라사이트ir academic progress while also maintaining 바카라사이트 institution’s financial viability.  

This practice is ubiquitous among consortial relationships in higher education, although historically, it tended to be limited to small groups of neighbouring colleges and focused primarily on sharing in-person courses. Newer initiatives take advantage of technology to allow students to take online courses from schools all over 바카라사이트 country. Institutions need to carefully consider concerns over quality control of such courses, equity in student outcomes and diminished faculty roles when making decisions about outsourcing. 

 is a third-party organisation that partners with a network of more than 200 institutions to enable 바카라사이트m to share courses across over a dozen existing higher education consortia. Its digital platform enables vetting and approval of shared courses for individual institutions, makes it easy for students to explore course offerings and electronically request registration, and provides an automated inter-college payments system.  

Each of 바카라사이트se strategies can each be effective on its own but could also be implemented alongside 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs for potentially greater impact. For instance, jointly creating and offering a course with ano바카라사이트r institution using a master course shell would split 바카라사이트 development cost while expanding 바카라사이트 number of sections available. 

The pandemic has thrust online learning to 바카라사이트 forefront of many conversations about 바카라사이트 future of higher education. As more students, instructors and administrators become familiar with this learning modality, 바카라사이트re will be ever more opportunities to expand offerings. It will be essential to do so in a way that improves both quality and efficiency for all participants in 바카라사이트 process. 

Michael Fried is a researcher and Jenna Joo is a senior analyst both at .

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