The 26th Quality Assurance Symposium which was held last April 19 echoed the training on e-learning which conducted by the National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment in cooperation with the British Council. The echo of the training was given by the Rector himself, Prof. Abdullah R. Al Shammery, together with Ms. Celeste Flor S. Laungayan of the Quality Assurance Center and Mr. Sheik Salim Al Rahaman of the IT Department. The three attended the said training which had e-learning experts, Prof. Denise Kirkpatrick, Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning Teaching and Quality of the Open University and Dr. Bob Munn of the University of Manchester, UK as speakers. The training was held at the Riyadh Makarim Hotel last March 2012.
The Rector discussed the basics of e-learning - its definition, its role and its different modes and varieties of programs. He also discussed the differences between e-learning and distance learning; between e-learning and conventional on-campus learning as well as those between the three levels of e-learning. Prof. Abdullah spoke a little on the domains of learning and introduced the VARK model of learning. He also spoke on Learning Management Systems (LMS) which are structured systems to deliver learning and which are deemed to be the systems approach to quality learning. LMS could be developed in-house or it could be an commercial or off-the shelf system too but the choice of the LMS will dictate the quality of the system, said the Rector. The Rector ended his discussion by giving his positive assessment of the readiness, willingness and ability of the RCsDP faculty to implement e-learning at this particular point in time.
Ms. Laungayan spoke specifically on quality and its definition and the standards, performance indicators, benchmarks and good practices through which quality could be assessed then assured and ultimately enhanced.
Mr. Rahaman discussed the security aspect of e-learning - security relative to the content, supply, access and assessment of the learning delivered. He also underlined the importance of open educational resources which are now readily available online.
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