epprobate quality grid

A. COURSE DESIGN

1

Provision of course information, learning objectives and instructional guidance

The courseware provides learners with all the information needed, including clear and appropriate learning objectives and sufficient instructional guidance.

2

Constructive alignment

The learning objectives, instructional strategies and assessment processes (where provided within the courseware) are congruently aligned with each other, so that the instructional strategies used can be seen to be effectively assisting learners in achieving the intended learning objectives.

B. Learning Design

3

Learner needs

The instructional strategies meet the learner's needs, and are matched to the learner’s profile (skill level, age group, specific constraints, etc.)

4

Personalisation

If appropriate the courseware allows personalization of the learning process and supports the development of learner autonomy.

5

Instructional strategies

The courseware provides an appropriate range of instructional strategies that motivate and engage learners and support active learning (and where appropriate the development of critical thinking).

These instructional strategies support learning through an appropriate range of the following forms of learning:

  • Acquisition – where learning is done by listening to, reading, or watching materials that are presented in such a way as to gain the attention and interest of the learner

  • Inquiry - where the learner is provided with a focus for enquiry, resources, and guidance for the learning process

  • Practice - where the learner is provided with interactive exercises, games, opportunities to interact with representations of the domain, or other activities that provide feedback

  • Communication - where the learner is encouraged and supported in communicating with other learners (formally and/or informally) and/or with tutors (e.g. coaching)

  • Construction – where the learner is provided with opportunities to learn, or to demonstrate the outcome of their learning, through producing something - such as an essay, or a design.

C. MEDIA DESIGN

6

Media integration

The utilization of media (i.e. text, pictures, audio, and video) and tools effectively enhances comprehension of the course content and empowers implementation of the instructional strategies.

7

Interface

The courseware interface (in terms of navigation and web design) is user friendly, corresponds to current practice, and allows learners to efficiently monitor their progress through the course.

8

Interoperability and technological standards

The courseware complies with common technical standards (e.g. SCORM, IMS) thus supporting interoperability.

D. CONTENT

9

Accuracy and values of content

The content is an accurate representation of the domain from a particular perspective or range of perspectives. Where appropriate issues of values are addressed openly. The content is written so as avoid culturally biased terms and examples.

10

Intellectual property rights

The courseware supplier has the rights to use the materials in the courseware. Where material is provided as an OER the rights of use and reuse are clearly stated with an appropriate Creative Commons license.

11

Legal compliance

The content abides by all relevant national and international legislation with reference to content, including laws related to bias, slander, and promotion of specific values.

NOTE 1: It is intended that the reviewers will examine courseware in terms of these statements and write comments appropriately. It is not intended that any single criterion be essential, but rather that a courseware supplier should in their self assessment document indicate to what extent they meet a specific criteria, and the reasons for any divergence. The review panel will then make a judgment as to the validity of this argument in this case.

NOTE 2: Reviewers will assess courseware in terms of these specific criteria, expressing their judgments as:

  • A - Exceeds the requirements of the criterion
  • B - Meets the requirements of the criterion
  • C - Meets some but not all of the requirements of the criterion
  • D - Fails to meet the requirements of the criterion

It is intended that as epprobate develops experience of reviewing courseware that the quality grid will be illustrated by examples of good practice for each of the criteria.