Guest Author - Sanita Salter

This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals, educators, and higher education institutions improve access, affordability, teaching excellence, quality, and breadth in online learning. The Sloan-C offers online teacher certification courses for those wanting to teach online. Also, offered are survey reports, which cover topics that would concern the online student, administrators of educational institutions (K-12 online administrators included), and those who teach online.

Sloan-C publishes journals, which cover topics concerning online learning issues affecting students, faculty, and institutions. It lists the degree and certificate programs of accredited institutions, consortia, and other to aid in discovery and maintain integrity of online learning. The Annual Volumes of Applied Research Studies include several publications that cover topics including Blended Learning through Learning Effectiveness, Faculty Satisfaction, and Cost Effectiveness.

The consortium lists forums, ongoing research, and surveys as credits to its mission to keep the quality of online education reputable, viable, affordable, and accessible. The promotion of lifelong learning is easily seen and their “Five Pillars of quality online education” would be an asset to many considering learning online, teaching online, or institutions seeking to expand their online program.

Professional development, newsletters, conferences, and workshops offered through Sloan-C all contribute to improved standards in online teaching. “Members include (1) private and public universities and colleges, community colleges and other accredited course and degree providers, and (2) organizations and suppliers of services, equipments, and tools that practice the Sloan-C quality principles” (Sloan-C, 2008).

According to the report titled “Growing By Degrees” published by Sloan-C in 2005 the CAO’s of over 1,000 colleges and university have it all summed up when they responded to the questions 1). Have the course and program offerings in online education entered the mainstream? CAO’s said Yes. 2). Who is teaching online? CAO’s reported the majority of online teachers were core faculty and not adjunct instructors which eases questions of quality of education. 3). Is online education becoming part of an longterm strategy for most schools? CAO’s responses vary however growth in all types of schools large and small have seen a marked increase. 4) Have online enrollments continued their rapid growth? CAO’s stated growth was occurring at a rate in 2004 of 22.9% and has likely far surpassed that rate in 2008. 5) What else to CAO’s and faculty believe about online education? CAO’s were reported to believe that online learning versus campus based learning are of equal value, that online teaching requires more effort from the instructor, and more discipline for the student.

Well there you have it…the discipline is a definite must for the student and instructor.