Challenges and opportunities for effective assessments within a quality assurance framework for MOOCs. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xiao, Chong; Qiu, Hanqin; Cheng, Soo May
• Is Part Of: Journal of hospitality, leisure, sport & tourism education. Volume 24(2019)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 16
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: MOOC -- Assessment -- Quality assurance -- Hospitality and tourism education; Hospitality industry -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Leisure industry -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Recreation industry -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 338.4791071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhlste.2018.10.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-8376

Abstract

Abstract: 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. Graphical abstract: fx1