Quality Indicators that Impact the Design and Delivery of Online Instruction

Universities are expanding their resources to be digitally linked, offering convenience to students who are seeking nontraditional way of education a better fit for their busy lifestyles. This study aims to examine quality indicators pertaining to the design and delivery of online instruction and its impact on students learning perspectives and outcomes. Quality indicators pertaining to course structure, course content, course navigation, and course assessments are used to examine their overall experience in taking online course. 110 undergraduate students responded to an online survey questionnaire. The findings indicated that ninety five percent of the students agreed that they received all the relevant information required to complete their assessments and ninety seven percent of them were comfortable in using the technology to submit their assignments. Challenges to online instruction included the impact of physical distance between instructor and student, adapting to the technology, and time management. We argue that it is equally significant to consider factors pertaining to the type, quality, and quantity of information presented to students, as online instruction demands a balance in the use of technology. We provide the lessons learned and recommendations for enhancing the quality of online instruction.