BYU-Idaho Online Knowledgebase

About Quality Practices

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Quality practices represent BYU-Idaho’s current and best understanding of quality online course design and delivery. They are a peer-reviewed, adaptable body of knowledge about what makes a good course.

 A quality practice's central purpose is to facilitate continuous improvement in the following ways:

  • Formalize a body of knowledge that represents our best understanding about what makes a quality course.
  • Make actionable the principles and requirements implied in the Online Course Design and Delivery Principles and Standards.
  • Standardize a path by which a good idea can become an established benchmark for the entire portfolio.
  • Create a framework for action as new knowledge emerges.

Quality Practices are updated and improved as our knowledge deepens and expands.

Who Develops Quality Practices?

Quality practices are written by individuals or groups in the Online Organization. The opportunity to write and publish a BYU-Idaho quality practice means contributing to the University's verified, leading body of knowledge on online courses and pedagogy, much like publishing an article in an academic journal would. In doing so, authors help set the benchmarks by which all courses will be assessed for quality. Successful publication requires careful effort and is a significant accomplishment. All quality practices are approved by the OLC and are peer-reviewed (Online Handbook 2.3)..

How are Quality Practices Used and Checked?

Design groups center their discussions on quality practices. The review team checks for alignment with quality practices at each phase of the review process. Significant departure without appropriate rationale may prevent a course from being offered.

How Are Quality Practices Published?

Quality practices follow a standard publication process:

  1. Development of a quality practice article is commissioned or authorized by OLC. Individuals wishing to contribute a quality practice should present the idea to their department director, who will sponsor the idea in OLC.
  2. Author (or authoring group) writes the quality practice article.
  3. Peer-reviewer is identified, edits and approves the article.
  4. OLC reviews the article and the approved article is submitted for final copyedits.
  5. The new quality practice is published and announced to impacted personnel.
  6. Review team and others (if necessary) are trained.

About this article

Responsible: Online Learning Strategist (Emily Hermann)

Accountable: Director of OPR (Ben Fryar)

Consulted: N/A

Informed:

Sharing: Unrestricted

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