Resources+for+Quality

=Resources for Quality=
 * **CHALLENGE** Designing quality online courses can be challenging.
 * **STANDARDS FOR GUIDANCE** Fortunately there are established standards that we can follow to ensure that our online and blended courses meet the criteria for quality.
 * **F2F VS VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT** Although many of the best practices we use in a face-to-face environment may apply in the virtual environment, what works in a face-to-face setting does not necessarily translate into the online environment.
 * **CONTENT AND TECHNOLOGY** The fundamentals of curriculum and course development apply however, developing a good online or blended course requires knowing the technology and tools that are available to make a course the best it can be.


 * Following are some resources that you should familiarize yourself with before you endeavor to develop an online or blended course:**

On October 12, 2011, iNACOL released the //National Standards for Quality Online Courses, version 2//. The standards selected are based on the original standards, the results of a research review and survey of online course quality criteria. These quality standards were evaluated and assembled into an easy to use document for evaluating online courses with common benchmarks. "Standards help ensure the quality and consistency of online learning in K-12," said Susan Patrick, President and CEO of iNACOL. "//The National Standards for Quality Online Courses// offers an important measuring tool to help policy leaders, schools, and parents across the nation evaluate course quality and implement best practices." Since the original standards were released, other organizations have released quality standards for online courses. iNACOL organized a team of experts in the area of course development, instructional design, professional development, research, education, and administration to review these new standards and new literature around the topic and determined there was a need to refresh version one of the iNACOL standards. The same process was used in developing version two of the standards in addition to having version one as a starting point in the development of the new version. As a proven, practical method to enhance the critical learning experience, K-12 online learning is growing rapidly. Online learning levels the playing field for all students to access high quality courses and teachers. To download the standards [|CLICK HERE,]
 * iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Courses**

Built on research literature and published best practices, the award-winning **Quality Matters Program** provides a process to ensure quality in online courses through the use of The Grades 6-12 Rubric, course reviews and professional development opportunities for teachers and instructional designers. The Grades 6-12 Rubric presents 9 General Standards for quality online courses. To review these standards CLICK HERE.
 * Quality Matters Program (K-12)**


 * IDEAL-NM QUALITY ASSURANCE** [[file:IDEAL-NM COURSE QUALITY ASSURANCE.pdf]] contains information regarding:
 * Standards Alignment
 * Developer/Designer Competencies
 * Course Review Process
 * Online Course Review Criteria


 * IDEAL-NM'S online courses adhere to the following course review criteria:**

Domain 1: Course Content

Domain 2: Instructional Design

Domain 3: Student Assessment

Domain 4: Technology


 * For more information on these four domains (indicators) CLICK HERE.**