GPEC’s Quality Standards for Delivery of CLU’s
Hybrid and Fully Online Graduate Courses
Standards: The purpose of this document is to outline GPEC’s minimum quality standards for delivery of
hybrid and fully-online graduate-level courses at California Lutheran University. Programs may elect to
adopt quality standards for distant-learning courses that exceed these foundational delivery standards.
Once a course is determined to meet or exceed these quality standards of delivery, GPEC will evaluate
the course curriculum.
Syllabus
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Carnegie hoursb
1.
2.
Clear organization
1.
Activities for active
learning
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
Assessments
1.
Additional resources
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
Accessibility
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Syllabus complies with both CLU and Program content and formatting
expectations
Syllabus lists measurable student outcomes linked to assignments and
assessments that are appropriate for the level of the course
Syllabus outlines content by week or learning module
Syllabus contains a Carnegie Hour tablea
Syllabus provides detailed grading criteria and course expectations.
Syllabus explains the role online learning will play in the course
(syllabus explains that it will be a hybrid or online course, with virtual
class sessions replacing some or all of the face-to-face sessions, etc.)
Faculty-led activitiesc fulfill or exceed Carnegie hour requirements
Student-initiated studyd expectations fulfill or exceed Carnegie hour
requirementse
Fully-online courses incorporate a discussion board focused on faculty
and student introductions.
The hybrid or online course is organized into modules or by weekf
Each week or learning module lists student learning objectives
Expectations regarding student engagement are clearly communicated
Each week or module includes at least one asynchronous activity
designed to promote engagement (e.g., discussion board, blog, twitter)
Any fully online course includes at least one synchronous activity (live
chat) and at least one pre-recorded, content-focused video (e.g.,
PowerPoint presentation, software demonstration, lecture using
whiteboard, interview with expert, etc.) per week or learning module
The course offers a variety of assessments that measure student
learning objectives
Grading standards are clearly communicated
Rubrics or assignment exemplars are provided for key assignments
Students receive regular feedback on their performance
Depth of course extended by providing resources that go beyond the
lecture/instructional materials (e.g., scholarly resources, practitioner
articles, webinars and videos, glossaries)
Module and weekly resources published in standard Web format (e.g.,
pdf, html)
Course layout offers logical navigation
Access to resources is compliant with copyright standards
Course meets standards needed by screen readers
Reasonable accommodations provided upon request
Support services and resources are explained
Course contains help documentation or links to campus resources and
help
Technology
a.
1.
2.
Technology tools and media support learning goals
Minimum technology requirements communicated to students prior to
the start of the term
A sample Carnegie Hour table for a 3-credit, 8-week course follows. (Assignments may vary by course)
Carnegie-Hour Table
Activity
Weekly
Instructor-Led
Independent
Required readings (text, articles, etc.)
Pre-recorded lectures
Other (webinars, resources)
Weekly live chats (synchronous)
Discussion board (asynchronous)
Quizzes and homework
Group projects (averaged across term)
Independent case study/application
Final Exam
Consultations with professor
0.25
Total Carnegie Hours
5.75
Total Course
Instructor-Led
Independent
4.0
1.5
1.0
1.5
1.5
32.0
12.0
8.0
12.0
12.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
14.0
16.0
16.0
16.0
2.0
12.0
46.0
94.0
A sample Carnegie Hour table for a 4-credit, 11-week course follows. (Assignments may vary by course.)
Carnegie-Hour Table
Activity
Required readings (text, articles, etc.)
Pre-recorded lectures
Other resources and webinars
Weekly live chats (synchronous)
Faculty-led discussion board
Group discussion boards
Homework and Assignments
Final Exam
Consultations with professor
Total Carnegie Hours
b.
Total Course
Instructor-Led
Independent
4.0
1.5
.5
1.5
1.5
44.0
16.5
5.5
16.5
16.5
1.0
3.0
3.0
0.5
5.5
11.0
33.0
33.0
5.5
11.0
60.5
121
Fifty (50) minutes is equivalent to one (1) Carnegie hour. The sample Carnegie Hour table for the 3-credit, 8week course depicted above would translate to the following actual hours and minutes.
Actual Hours Table
Activity
Required readings (text, articles, etc.)
Pre-recorded lectures
Other (webinars, resources)
Weekly live chats (synchronous)
Discussion board (asynchronous)
Quizzes and homework
Group projects (averaged across term)
Independent case study/application
Final Exam
Consultations with professor
Actual Hours and Minutes
c.
Weekly
Instructor-Led
Independent
Weekly
Instructor-Led
Independent
Total Course
Instructor-Led
Independent
3.33 hours
1.25 hours
0.83 hours
1.25 hours
1.25 hours
26.7 hours
10.0 hours
6.67 hours
10.0 hours
10.0 hours
1.67 hours
1.67 hours
1.67 hours
1.67 hours
0.21 hours
4.8 hours
11.7 hours
13.3 hours
13.3 hours
13.3 hours
1.67 hours
10.0 hours
38.3 hours
78.3 hours
Faculty-led activities include: classroom or synchronous (live chat) sessions, pre-recorded lectures, discussion
boards and blogs that are strategically managed by the faculty, consultations and office hours with the faculty.
d.
Student-initiated study include: readings, research, study for exams, group work and study sessions,
reviewing resource materials, etc.
e.
In a three-credit course, Carnegie requires 45 hours of faculty-led activities and 90 hours of student-initiated
work (i.e., two hours of out-of-class time for every one hour of instructor-led time). The following table
describes Carnegie Hour requirements for a one-, two-, three- and four-credit course or lab, with the
corresponding actual hours and minutes (based on one Carnegie Hour equals 50 actual minutes).
Total Carnegie Hours
Instructor-Led
Independent
One (1) Credit Course or Lab
Two (2) Credit Course or Lab
Three (3) Credit Course or Lab
Four (4) Credit Course of Lab
f.
15.0
30.0
45.0
60.0
30.0
60.0
90.0
120.0
Total Actual hours and minutes
Instructor-Led
Independent
12.5
25.0
37.5
50.0
Courses are organized by module or week. A sample module page is depicted below.
25.0
50.0
75.0
100.0
END