Quality Assurance Framework for the Design and Delivery of Virtual, Real-Time Courses

Designing and delivering outcome-based courses that emphasize learner-centric educational discourse and active learning is challenging, especially in online learning environments Ensuring quality in the design and delivery of such courses in the virtual space requires a well-defined framework with key constituents that interact based on ordered sequences of events Despite the pressing need for a quality assurance system for today’s virtual, real-time courses, such a system has not been systematically designed A coherent quality assurance system requires a clear framework that defines the interacting constituents This work proposes a conceptual and generic “Quality Assurance” (QA) framework, based on experiences primarily in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, for the effective design and delivery of outcome-based virtual, real-time courses that incorporate active learning practices This Quality Assurance framework may be adjusted to serve as a blueprint that, once adjusted by institutions to accommodate their missions, guides institutions in developing or amending their policies and procedures for the design and delivery of virtual, real-time courses;in addition, such a framework is important for institutions to develop Quality Assurance systems that integrate mechanisms for continuous improvement The proposed quality assurance framework includes three constituents: a “Teaching and Learning Support” (TLS) that trains educators on pedagogical approaches and the capabilities of the institution’s Learning Management System (LMS);an “Information and Communication Technology Support” (ICTS) that assists educators with the technologies and tools available in the learning management system;and a “Course Management System” (CMS) that encapsulates course design, delivery, and assessment;this study focuses primarily on this “Course Management System” constituent