Rubric for Evaluating Online Instruction
If you are looking to evaluate your own hybrid or online course, or if you are asked to observe a hybrid or online course being taught by a colleague, you may want to use a rubric for online instruction.
One rubric we recommend was developed by the State University of New York, through SUNY Online. It specifies six categories for a course with online components:
- Course Overview and Information: Does the course include a welcome message and a syllabus? Is the syllabus easy to find? Does the syllabus clearly state the course expectations? Does the course provide links to college policies on Academic Integrity, special accommodations, etc.?
- Course Technology & Tools: Does the course clearly state the skills required for using technology; list support resources for using technology listed; include links to privacy policies for technology? Do the required technology tools meet accessibility standards?
- Design and Layout: Is the course layout logical and consistent? Is it easy to navigate? Does the design meet accessibility standards?
- Content and Activities: Does the course offer a variety of ways for the learner to engage with the content, classmates and the instructor? Does the course provide activities that involve problem solving skills, experiential learning, case studies, and problem-based activities? Do the course materials and resources include copyright and licensing status? Does the course meet accessibility standards?
- Interaction: Does the course provide regularly scheduled instructor-to-student interactions and feedback? Are expectations for course interactions clearly stated? Does the course provide opportunities to build class community (learner to learner interaction, collaboration, resource sharing)?
- Assessment and Feedback: Are grading policies, including consequences of late submissions clearly stated in the Course Information/ Syllabus materials? Does the course include frequent, appropriate, and authentic methods to assess the learners’ mastery of content? Is the Criteria for the assessment of a graded assignment clearly stated? Does the course provide opportunities for learners to review and assess their own learning? Are learners informed when a timed response is required? Is the gradebook up-to-date and is it easy for learners to access? Does the course include the opportunity for learners to provide feedback on the course?
The complete rubric listing standards for each category is at the SUNY Online Course Quality Review Rubric
The complete rubric, including descriptors for each category at Sufficiently Present; Minor Revision; Moderate Revision; Major Revision; and an Action Plan can be downloaded as a fillable pdf at OLC Quality Scorecard Suite: OSCQR 4.0