TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges and opportunities for effective assessments within a quality assurance framework for MOOCs
AU - XIAO, Chong Zoe
AU - QIU, Hanqin
AU - CHENG, Soo May
PY - 2019/6
Y1 - 2019/6
N2 - In the extant literature of MOOCs’ quality issues, assessment has been largely neglected. This study developed a quality assurance (QA) framework for examining MOOCs’ assessments, from two comprehensive and widely adopted QA frameworks of online learning programs. This framework was applied to compare a set of MOOCs and on-campus courses, both provided by a university faculty of hospitality. Findings show that assessments of this MOOC program are generally comparable to the offline QA framework. However, differences also exist. These differences reflect three challenges: namely, (1) the insufficient hurdle role of MOOC assessments in qualification verification, (2) their inadequacies in training and assessing higher-order practical competencies, and (3) the unfulfilled role of learners as co-creators and co-assessors. These challenges can be converted into opportunities for better positioning of MOOCs as valuable educational offerings in hospitality and tourism.
AB - In the extant literature of MOOCs’ quality issues, assessment has been largely neglected. This study developed a quality assurance (QA) framework for examining MOOCs’ assessments, from two comprehensive and widely adopted QA frameworks of online learning programs. This framework was applied to compare a set of MOOCs and on-campus courses, both provided by a university faculty of hospitality. Findings show that assessments of this MOOC program are generally comparable to the offline QA framework. However, differences also exist. These differences reflect three challenges: namely, (1) the insufficient hurdle role of MOOC assessments in qualification verification, (2) their inadequacies in training and assessing higher-order practical competencies, and (3) the unfulfilled role of learners as co-creators and co-assessors. These challenges can be converted into opportunities for better positioning of MOOCs as valuable educational offerings in hospitality and tourism.
KW - Assessment
KW - Hospitality and tourism education
KW - MOOC
KW - Quality assurance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058480192&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jhlste.2018.10.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jhlste.2018.10.005
M3 - Journal Article (refereed)
VL - 24
SP - 1
EP - 16
JO - Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education
JF - Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education
SN - 1473-8376
ER -