Base QA Standards

Learning and Teaching Online

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Preparing for online teaching - standards 1 and 2
Preparing your students - standards 3 - 5
Your online presence - standards 6 - 8

[Quicklinks to standards: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ]

Standard	1 Educational development for new units
Criteria	1.1 Contact with an online advisor Where a unit is to use MyLO for the first time, the unit coordinator/developer(s) should contact their nearest or appropriate educational developer or online advisor to discuss their intentions. Those who are reusing / redeveloping existing online units may also benefit from a brief consultation (which is optional).
Rationale	Discussing intentions will identify any technical needs and skills (on the part of both staff and students) as well as any potential problems/issues that might be associated with the online proposal. Advisors can also advise on appropriate design to meet your educational goals.
Supporting Resources	Educational designers from the Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching (CALT) are available in both Hobart and Launceston. Alternatively, faculty/school based educational designers/advisors with online expertise may be consulted (if available). Contact details - CALT Educational Designers
Last revised	20 April, 2009

[Quicklinks to standards: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ] [top of page]

Standard	2 Staff training/development
Criteria	2.1 Staff training undertaken As a minimum, unit coordinators should participate in formal, structured MyLO training appropriate to their needs. The UTAS Teaching Online Essentials program provides staff with a range of training options to suit their needs and circumstances. Staff should participate (or have participated) in this program or a recognised equivalent before offering a MyLO unit component. Staff may also meet this criterion if they have significant prior experience in developing and teaching through MyLO or an equivalent Learning Management System.
Rationale	Teaching staff need to be: technically competent to operate MyLO as they require, and aware of the range of educational opportunities that MyLO presents and factors to consider in planning for teaching through the medium. Participation in a structured program is normally the most efficient and effective way to master MyLO. Although staff may choose to use MyLO in only a limited way, that choice should be an informed one.
Supporting Resources	Flexible training programs for designers and instructors (in MyLO) – Teaching Online Essentials program Teaching & Learning Online web site at https://www.utas.edu.au/learning-teaching-online support resources and staff development/training opportunities)
Last revised

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Standard	3 Unit Outline
Criteria	3.1 online unit incorporates a school/faculty approved Unit Outline in MS-Word, PDF or HTML format Information that must be included in unit outlines is detailed in the University's Code of Conduct for Teaching and Learning (see section A, item 5) and Policy on Assessment Practice. All of the required elements are included in the University's Unit Outline Proforma. For units without formal code identification, equivalent 'About the unit' information should be provided online.
Rationale	Having the Unit Outline available in electronic (online) form increases the accessibility of the information. (Note that the University's Code of Conduct mandates the issuing of a printed version of this document to students in the first week of the academic timetable.)
Supporting Resources	Code of Conduct for Teaching and Learning [MS Word] Policy on Assessment Practice [MS Word] Unit Outline Proforma
Last revised	20 April, 2009

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Standard	4 Access information & requirements
Criteria	4.1 Students are provided and/or directed to information about how to access their online unit. To meet this requirement, as a minimum students should be directed to the Learning Online website (http://www.utas.edu.au/coursesonline). It is recommended that this link be placed on the section Home Page. (This link is provided by default on University generic section templates.)
Criteria	4.2 Students are clearly informed of the online engagement expected of them Students are provided with information about: how MyLO is used in the unit (whether compulsory or optional; mode of engagement - web supported; web dependent etc.) the expectations/requirements regarding their online engagement – e.g. frequency, expected time commitment etc. staff roles in supporting that engagement, and the extent of that support. Information about access and engagement can be included in either the Unit Outline or other hard copy (print) document (see ‘Supporting resources’ for a Word-based template).
Rationale	Information about access and required engagement is critical to students. Providing this information in printed form ensures that all students have ready access to this material, and a hard copy record.
Supporting Resources	‘MyLO information: Guide for students’ (PDF) template is available for adaptation as required
Last revised	20 April, 2009

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Standard	5 Student training and support
Criteria	5.1 Students are directed to suitable MyLO/IT training and support resources Unit coordinators should inform students in writing of available MyLO and information technology support and resources. Suggested links to be highlighted for students are: Learning online - for online learning and MyLO support URL: http://www.utas.edu.au/coursesonline/ -> Also see Standard 4 above IT Training Online - free online training resources for students URL: http://www.utas.edu.au/it_training
Rationale	Students need the necessary skills to make the most of their online learning experiences. The University has invested in a suite of suitable training materials, and provides relevant support and information through a number of UTAS web sites.
Supporting Resources	‘MyLO information: Guide for students’ (PDF) template – where this information is included
Last revised	20 April, 2009

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Standard	6 Communication tools
Criteria	6.1 At least one communications tool is provided to students Either the MyLO Email or Discussions tool is provided to enable students to communicate with each other and/or teaching staff free of time constraints. Alternatively, other non-MyLO asynchronous (time independent) communication tools such as bulletin boards and listservers may be used.
Criteria	6.2 Communications conduct and expectations explained Students are informed of appropriate online communications conduct, and the role (if any) of teaching staff in online communications.
Rationale	Asynchronous (i.e. time-independent) communications tools broaden the means of communication for students, providing greater flexibility regarding when and where this occurs. Their use also contributes towards development of communication skills, one of the University’s stated generic graduate attributes. The extent to which these tools are used by teaching staff in communicating with students is at their discretion. Irrespective of the level of staff involvement, students should be informed of appropriate communications conduct (‘netiquette’), and the role that teaching staff will/may play in monitoring/moderating online communications.
Supporting Resources	MyLO guides to the Discussions and Email tools - available through Learning and Teaching Online and Learning Online Netiquette for online communications: Quick guide for all users [word]
Last revised	20 April, 2009

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Standard	7 Copyright compliance
Criteria	7.1 Commonwealth of Australia Copyright notice is displayed A Commonwealth of Australia copyright notice must be included as a footer on the Vista section homepage. The standard notice is included in the default MyLO template issued to online unit developers. This copyright notice will also be displayed each time a file is accessed from EQUELLA (the University's Digital Copyright Management System) or Library eReserve.
	7.2 Understanding of copyright obligations under the University's electronic communications licence and commitment to comply with those obligations Staff responsible for uploading third party copyright content (text, graphics etc.) understand (i.e. have read) their obligations and copying limits under Copyright legislation and the University's Electronic Reproduction and Communications Statutory Educational Licence under Part VB of the Copyright Act, and have observed/will observe those requirements and University procedures for making such material available online to students -> as explained in the UTAS Copyright Guide for Staff and CALT file management advice document (see 'Supporting resources below') Students will be made aware of the University's copyright obligations if they are to post third party materials to the unit's MyLO site.
	7.3 All third-party resources properly referenced and acknowledged Unit developers will clearly and fully acknowledge the source of such material at a place where the material is to be embedded in the website and include (if necessary) a statement that permission has been granted for its use. External web sites do/will open in a new window.
Rationale	[7.1] According to the terms of the University's licence under Part VB of the Act, the Commonwealth of Australia copyright disclaimer notice must be prominently displayed and appear either before or at the same time as the material being communicated appears on screen. [7.2/7.3] Copying/communicating material outside the guidelines will place the University in breach of its licence conditions and subject to possible legal action by copyright owners. [7.3] It should be clear to students that information provided from an external web site is indeed information from that provider, and not from the University.
Supporting Resources	The following resources are all available through the UTAS Copyright website at: http://www.utas.edu.au/copyright/ > Copyright Resources for staff – staff username and password required. Standard copyright disclaimer Copying for Teaching Purposes: Guidelines for Academic Staff Decision tree for determining copyright compliance [MS Word - A3 format] CALT file management advice [‘In-copyright material: Advice for MyLO developers’] [MS Word]
Last revised	20 April, 2009

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Standard	8 Accessibility of resources
Criteria	8.1 Appropriate software to access content files Those staff responsible for uploading content files (text, graphics, audio, video) fully understand the software students require to display those files, and any hardware implications (e.g. restrictions to one platform), and direct/will direct students to where they can access that software.
	8.2 File sizes do not exceed the recommended maximum Teaching/development staff know how to determine file size and minimise files so that, as a rule of thumb, individual files uploaded are no bigger than 1MB (and preferably under 500 KB). Where files do exceed this limit, alternate, smaller-size files are (or will be) made available for downloading, or the files are streamed.
	8.3 Web publishing and accessibility guidelines referred to a) The relevant/appropriate web publishing guidelines (as checklists) have been accessed and downloaded for reference (see 'Supporting resources below') : Word documents HTML documents PDF documents PowerPoint presentations b) UTAS web accessibility guidelines have been consulted (at http://www.utas.edu.au/accessibility/) as they relate to uploaded documents (also see above). c) Audio-visual media: Equivalent alternatives to any audio or visual content are/will be provided (e.g. as text transcriptions for audio; audio for visual information).
Rationale	[8.1] - Some file types may be restricted to one platform (PC or Mac); specific steps may have to be taken if other than standard plug-ins made available through Learning Online (such as Acrobat Reader, Quicktime player) are required by students. [8.2] - Large files create considerable downloading and printing problems for students - particularly when accessed from a home modem. [8.3] - Through Goal 4.6 of the University’s Equity Plan, UTAS is committed to ensuring that its web sites are accessible to all users. Legal obligations also exist under the Disability Discrimination Act (1992). Following the best practice publishing guidelines will make it easier for all users to access and process content.
Supporting Resources	UConnect website: http://uconnect.utas.edu.au Best Practice Publishing Guidelines for Online Units: Checklist for Word Documents Checklist for HTML Documents Checklist: documents converted to PDF Checklist for PowerPoint Documents Checklist for Audio/video (multimedia)
Last revised	20 April, 2009

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Authorised by the Associate Director, Service Delivery & Support

26 May, 2011

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