Thesis
The applicability of quality management to the field of web-enhanced learning in higher education institutions
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2011
- Thesis identifier
- T13117
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- Quality assurance in higher education and E-learning are current and topical, yet seldom overlap (Arbaugh, J. B., 2004). Higher education institutions are facing pressure to become more focused on the needs and expectations of clients and to compete in the global environment, especially given the growing and enhanced information and communication technology. According to Allen & Seaman, (2007) calls for quality promotion, evaluation, client satisfaction and value for money are driving the pedagogical revolution that cannot be neglected. Quality management in higher education and web-enhanced learning provide the context of this study. The research in this study is concerned with applying a quality management system to web-enhanced learning in higher education and seeks to answer the following questions: What are the critical success factors for quality web-enhanced learning? How could a quality management system be used effectively in the design process of Web-Enhanced Learning? What are the factors that promote/hinder the students and lecturers satisfaction of quality management system when applied to web-enhanced learning? The research methodology is case study based; exploring the need for a possible implementation of an effective quality management system in web-enhanced learning in an electronic learning environment at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. The conceptual framework of this study (Figure 4.5) is based on quality management systems theory and instructional system design. The field of web-enhanced learning is still suffering from the different gaps presented in the benchmarking and best practice as presented in the calls for improving the quality of e-learning which triggering the rationale of this research (see section 1.3). The process-based quality management system in this case study and the artifacts it produced, is a contribution to quality management practice and criteria that will assist the Higher Education Institutions in evaluating academic support units, with particular reference to web-enhanced learning. These artifacts are summarized below and could be generalized to other e-learning support units in other higher institutions. The associated capture and analysis of the critical success factors (CSF) using students and lecturer's satisfaction/dissatisfaction measures is a repeatable approach and as such is a contribution to the theory of quality web-enhanced learning and does not rest on the case study alone. The technique used in combining the existing ISO standards upon which to base the WEL QMS procedural instance is repeatable and a methodological contribution. Procedures can be adopted and customized for similar higher education institutions: The process of a proposed Quality Management System (QMS) approach in this case study and the results in terms of the methods, approach and detailed analysis it produced, are contributions to the theory of quality management system. The figure below represents a summary of the research process clarifying the relation and interactions of the research questions and the related research findings. During the journey of the thesis work and regardless the Quality Management Systems debate, it was found that taking the approach of Quality Assurance with respect to continuous improvement, such principles and methods may be modified and successfully applied to e-learning Higher Education Iinstitutions. Obviously the service quality of client satisfaction should be addressed and researched in order to continually improve the products or the services offered. As such ccomprehensive evaluation of web-enhanced learning by lecturers and students needs to be enabled on regular basis. For of lecturers, the qualitative approach yielded more valuable and meaningful data than a wide e-mail questionnaire would have done. Lecturers are keen and willing to share their sincere experiences and needs. The human element in terms of both lecturer buy-in and student use of web-supported learning determines the vital success of using technology to enhance teaching and learning.
- Resource Type
- Note
- Strathclyde theses - ask staff. Thesis no. : T13117
- DOI
- Date Created
- 2011
- Former identifier
- 946529
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