Assessment, research, evaluation

Effective practice: Learning Effectiveness

Evaluation of learning processes and outcomes and perceptions

• Personalized, Student-Centered Life-Long Learning for Adult Learners
  University of Phoenix's online courses are designed for adults to learn efficiently through interactive discussions. -- more
  
• Flexible Enrollment Options Offer Students Control of Learning
  Flexible enrollment options offer learners choices and control of their pace of learning at Washington State University. -- more
  
• Learning and Cost Effectiveness in an Elementary Algebra Redesign
  Riverside Community College's elementary algebra course, redesigned to incorporated student interaction, helps students to learn more effectively. -- more
  
• Open Source CMS based on Social Constructionist Pedagogy
  Moodle is an open-course course management system (CMS) designed to help educators create quality online courses with emphasis on social constructivist pedagogy. -- more
  
• A New Methodology for Evaluation: The Pedagogical Rating of Online Courses
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology's pedagogical effectiveness index provides a simple yet mutlidimensional tool to the learning effectiveness of the online courses based on media, learning models and interactivity elements. -- more
  
• Blended Learning Chemistry Course
  Harper College's blended learning chemistry course delivers instructions effectively through thoughtful course design. -- more
  
• Integrated Assessment System for Courses, Overall Program and Post-Program Career Impacts
  This practice outlines a system of planned evaluations that together firmly support a process of continuous improvement for a distance degree program at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Key elements include: an evaluation of each course by students and faculty; an evaluation of the overall program at graduation; and a follow-up survey of alumni, their co-workers, and their family members to measure the impact of the program upon professional and personal development of alumni. -- more
  
• The Unique Value of Online MBA Course Syllabi
  The course syllabus serves as a useful communication tool primarily between students and faculty as it concisely outlines expectations. We are able to provide students and other interested parties with timely and consistent information on courses and we are able to provide details on key university policies. -- more
  
• Combining Effective Individualized and Group Instruction
  This practice combines individualized (self-regulated) learning with collaborative problem-based learning to reap the benefits of both approaches in a single, completely online, graduate course in Educational Psychology. -- more
  

• Offering English GSCE Preparation Online
  The Sheffield College (UK) offers a highly effective online course to prepare learners for the English GCSE qualification exam. -- more
  

Effective practices:Cost Effectiveness

System-wide implementations based on evaluation results

Effective practices: Access

Access studies and refinements

• Online Access to Faculty Technology Training Opportunities via the Faculty Online Technology Training Consortium (FOTTC)
  The Maryland Faculty Online web site provides technology training opportunities to higher education faculty. -- more
  
• Online Access to Learning Resources and Activities via Project Synergy
  The Maryland Faculty Online web site provides online access to a collection of interactive learning objects in six key discipline areas. -- more
  
• Country-Wide Training in University Pedagogy and ICT
  The Finnish Virtual University has launched a comprehensive training program for Finland's university-level teachers. -- more
  
• LeTTOL: Learning to Teach Online Program
  The Learning to Teach Online (LeTTOL) program at The Sheffield College helps participants gain the skills they need to develop and deliver online courses. -- more
  
• Making Online Learning Accessible -- Guidance for Faculty and Staff
  University of Maryland University College (UMUC)'s Accessibility in Distance Education (ADE) site addresses accessibility issues in online courses. -- more
  

Effective practices: Faculty Satisfaction

Opportunities for research and publication

• Ongoing Study/Enhancement of Faculty Satisfaction
  Pennsylvania State University World Campus implemented three principles to study and enhance faculty satisfaction. -- more
  
• Analysis of Faculty Experience and Initial Identification of Standards of Excellence
  The Greater Detroit Area Partnership for Training, which includes Oakland University, University of Detroit Mercy (lead agency), University of Michigan, and Wayne State University, improves faulty satisfaction by addressing concerns identified by faculty feedback. -- more
  

• Faculty Self-Study Research Project
  Pennsylvania State University World Campus conducts six faculty self-studies which examines online workloads across disciplines and creates technological and pedagogical interventions to make the faculty workload more manageable. -- more
  
• Best Practices in e-Learning Online Showcase
  The monthly Best Practices in e-Learning Online Showcase developed by the University of Calgary is an excellent opportunity for practitioners in e-learning to meet, share ideas, and showcase their best practices with each other for free. -- more
  

Effective practices: Student Satisfaction

Online channels for lifelong affiliation with community

• Collaborative Skills Training
  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Services Center provides free online training in collaborative skills based on a case study. -- more