Strategic Planning for Online Education: Sustaining Students, Faculty, and Programs

The dramatic growth of online education over the past two decades is requiring colleges to make a shift from fragmented approaches to program planning and implementation towards a framework integrating both into a coherent support system. This article provides an overview of an emerging holistic framework for planning and implementation of online programs calling for shared strategic planning needs assessment strategies, and establishing program consensus. Guided by a program vision, curriculum and instructional strategies are identified along with internal and external supports needed for successful implementation. The framework suggests demand-driven strategic planning, benchmarking approaches to implementation practices, and interactive feedback to ensure effective program planning and implementation.

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Emerging Framework for Planning and Implementation of Online Programs

Vocational Education Technologies and Advances in Adult Learning ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-0252-6.ch013 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 164-180

Author(s):

Victor M. Hernández-Gantes

Keyword(s):

Strategic Planning ◽

Online Education ◽

Instructional Strategies ◽

Program Planning ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Online Programs ◽

Effective Program ◽

Assessment Strategies ◽

Interactive Feedback ◽

Dramatic Growth

The dramatic growth of online education over the past two decades is requiring colleges to make a shift from fragmented approaches to program planning and implementation towards a framework integrating both into a coherent support system. This article provides an overview of an emerging holistic framework for planning and implementation of online programs calling for shared strategic planning needs assessment strategies, and establishing program consensus. Guided by a program vision, curriculum and instructional strategies are identified along with internal and external supports needed for successful implementation. The framework suggests demand-driven strategic planning, benchmarking approaches to implementation practices, and interactive feedback to ensure effective program planning and implementation.

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Social and Student Engagement and Support: The Sloan-C Quality Scorecard for the Administration of Online Programs

Online Learning ◽

10.24059/olj.v17i1.342 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Janet C. Moore ◽

Kaye Shelton

Keyword(s):

Student Engagement ◽

Strategic Planning ◽

Online Education ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Student Support ◽

External Evaluation ◽

Regional Accreditation ◽

Online Programs ◽

Quality Scorecard

As combinations of place-based, blended and fully online education proliferate, so do options for support and services. Regional accreditors provide criteria for student support. Aligning with regional criteria, the Sloan-C Quality Scorecard for the Administration of Online Programs is a useful way for institutions to measure and compare the quality of social and student engagement and support. The Scorecard aids quality efforts in institutional strategic planning, compliance reporting, and internal and external evaluation. Focusing on two of the nine categories of quality indicators—Social and Student Engagement and Student Support—this paper illustrates some ways institutions can meet Scorecard indicators while complementing regional accreditation guidelines.

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Defining Quality Standards, Guidelines, and Strategies for the Delivery of Successful Online Education in a Changing Society

Handbook of Research on Education and Technology in a Changing Society - Advances in Educational Technologies and Instructional Design ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-6046-5.ch015 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 190-201

Author(s):

Leane Skinner ◽

Maria Martinez Witte ◽

Elisha Wohleb

Keyword(s):

Education Research ◽

Strategic Planning ◽

Online Education ◽

Quality Standards ◽

The State ◽

Educational Institutions ◽

Changing Society

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a framework for defining quality standards, guidelines, and strategies for the delivery of successful online education in a changing society. Online education is one of the most prevalent outcomes of the influence of technology and economic and competitive pressures. Continued growth in the demand for online education has forced many traditional educational institutions to re-evaluate their historically defined quality standards, guidelines, and strategies relating to the delivery of courses and programs. As the trend toward online education continues, it is imperative to have a framework that will provide guidance to educational institutions when designing the successful delivery of online education. Research over the last two decades has provided information that can be used as a foundation for developing a framework for the strategic planning of online education at the state, institutional, program, and course levels.

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