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Do We Need An Evaluative Directory of ALN Providers?

by Sloan-C

Several resources are available to find programs and courses available via the Web. For example, the University of Tennessee offers many catalogs and databases of distance learning offerings at:
http://www.ce.utk.edu/PublicCSDE/crslist.htm

John Sener and Hildy Feen observed that a directory might contain the following:

• a listing of delivery methods, including media used
• number and type of in-person visits required
• how exams are handled (On-site? Electronically? None required? Proctored?)
• course description, including target audience and prerequisites.
• workstation requirements for the participant (e.g., RAM, plugins).

Olin Campbell observed that some directories of online providers are primarily a list of advertisements. Other directories of traditional place-based providers are evaluative. The latter category includes articles from students at each school, or rankings based on weighted criteria. He also contrasted accreditation based on inputs (e.g., ratings of faculty, facilities, and curriculum) from certification of a provider based on outputs (e.g., percentage of that providers' learners who pass a certification test on the first try).

Carolyn Gale offered a review of a particular course she took at Indiana University School of Education Distance Education program. She used the categories of Access, Interactions, "What I've Learned," and her Recommendation. This very positive review of the course provides first-hand information that both learners and course instructors can use.

Do we need an evaluative directory? Yes. It is still early, but customers need something more than an advertisement. They need independent third party ratings along the lines of what is already available for traditional place-based programs. The full discussion is available on ALNTalk in the ALN Web.