Design Criteria

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Mark Nichols (M.Nichols@ucol.ac.nz)
Mon, 14 Jun 1999 12:33:17 +1200 

From: Mark Nichols <M.Nichols@ucol.ac.nz>
Subject: Design Criteria
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1999 12:33:17 +1200

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Hi all,

I would like to suggest that design criteria be catagorised as either
"competency-based" or "rationale-based".

I believe that it makes good sense to have competency ("yes" or "no") rated
factors for those areas which are foundational to course design, such as:

* Are goals explicitly stated?
* Are information resources up to date?
* Are all Web links accurate?
* Can the learner access timely, customised support?
* etc.

These are areas where the course either performs or it doesn't.

Not all of the many issues involved in overall course design can be answered
with a simple "yes" or "no" though, and in many cases there is no ideal -
only "good" and "better". The second set of criteria, then, is
rationale-based. Areas to be considered here could include:

* How is CMC used, and why is it used in this way?
* How will students be assessed, and why were these methods chosen?
* What support is available to the learner, and what needs are they
designed to meet?
* What range of media is used, and why that mix?
* etc.

Using a system like this would help designers to make certain that the
non-negotiables are adequately included, and force them to critically
evaluate their design choices.

Might I request that we avoid debate on the appropriateness of
competency-based evaluation? I'm sure that we can all look at a course and
see whether or not goals are explicitly stated, for example. I want to make
a case for competency-based evaluation, not competency-based assessment.

Yours,

Mark Nichols
Marketing and Communications Lecturer
Senior Lecturer, Business Studies
UCOL (Universal College of Learning)
Phone: 06 - 952 7001 ext.7311
http://www.ucol.ac.nz

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