Quality Control Versus Academic Freedom: Walk the line

Abstract

Colleges incorporate online education using a variety of approaches. For some, there is little oversight applied to course design. At other institutions, instructors manage pre-written courses and serve primarily in a grading role. As online education expands, institutions must develop policies that balance the demands of academic freedom and student-centered design, the latter of which is valued by accreditors. Limited elements of standardization, including course design templates and grading rubrics, can help institutions demonstrate consistency and quality while preserving faculty academic freedom in course content.