The team at the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service developed the UIS Online Course Quality Rubric to simplify openly licensed online course quality standards widely used in higher education. Our hope is that this rubric can be used as a map for course design and facilitation, as well as a reflective tool. It is not a tool that "grades" your courses.
Rubric domains
The rubric is broken up into six domains, or categories of course design and facilitation.
Learn more about each domain, including specific standards, small practices to help you get started, and additional resources to consider as you reflect on and improve your courses by clicking on the cards below.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD
Domain 2
Technologies & Tools
Rubric standards
For each domain, there are a number of standards placed into one of two categories: Essential and Important.
Essential standards
These standards are crucial hallmarks of well designed and facilitated online courses. Ideally, all online courses should meet these standards, as the inclusion of materials, activities, and assessments that adhere to these standards ensures the best possible student and instructor experience.
Important standards
These standards may or may not be met in all courses, though we highly encourage the inclusion of materials, activities, and assessments that meet these standards where it makes sense to include them. Meeting these standards is demonstrative of advanced course design and facilitation.
Regular and substantive interaction
Additionally, certain standards have been identified as "Could Meet RSI," or regular and substantive interaction. On the pages for each domain, we'll highlight strategies that can help you meet this federal requirement if applicable.
UIS Quality Reviewed Courses
Hypatia Bolivar
Department: Psychology
Course Number: PSY 353 , PSY 310
Course Format: Online
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2022 & April 1, 2024
Tena Helton
Department: English
Course Number: ENG 365
Course Format: Online
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2021
Jennifer Martin
Department: Teacher Education Program
Course Number: TEP 315
Course Format: Online
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2020
The UIS Online Course Quality Rubric was adapted and expanded for UIS by the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service from two sources: SUNY'S OSCQR and OLC's Course Quality Scorecard. This resource is shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.