Quality Resources
Driving Excellence in Digital Learning
Discover research-informed guides, playbooks, webinars, and insights that empower institutions and educators to continuously improve the quality of their online, blended, and digital learning environments.
Featured Resources
Course-Level Quality Assurance
Members Only
Handbook
Course Review Scorecard Handbook
The definitive guide to using OLC’s Course Review Scorecard to evaluate and improve online and blended courses.
Members Only
Guide
Course Review Peer Review Guide
A companion guide to help peer reviewers apply the Scorecard with consistency, and transparency.
Members Only
Guide
Course Review Transition Guide
Designed for administrators overseeing the adoption of the updated Course Review Scorecard across programs or institutions.
Members Only
Tool + Guide
Course Review Assistant GPT and Guide
A generative AI companion that helps faculty and instructional designers utilize the Course Review Scorecard. Includes an in-depth how-to guide for effective use.
Program-Level Quality Assurance
Members Only
Handbook
Administration of Online Programs Handbook
A strategic guide for assessing and enhancing the quality of fully online academic programs using the OLC Program Scorecard.
Members Only
Handbook
Administration of Blended Programs Handbook
Tailored for institutions offering blended and hybrid learning, this handbook provides standards and review tools aligned to OLC’s Blended Program Scorecard.
Members Only
Handbook
Administration of Online Student Support Handbook
A framework for reviewing and improving the support structures for students in online and blended learning environments.
Course-Level Resources
Jump to: Program-Level Resources
The resources below focus on improving the design, delivery, and evaluation of individual online and blended courses.
Course Design
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- Article
If you’ve looked through our recently-released Course Review Scorecard, you may have noticed that two of the accessibility-focused objectives show...
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- On Demand Webinar
Is it time to examine your quality rubric, or do you want to build one of your own? OLC has...
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- Article
Introduction Drawing from ongoing work in instructional design and digital learning innovation, this article shares field-based strategies for addressing diverse...
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Introduction What happens when the expert knowledge of a seasoned healthcare educator merges with the innovative flair of an instructional...
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- Guide
This guide offers ten considerations that are consistent across online course quality evaluationinstruments, including rubrics and scorecards. Exemplary criteria from...
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- On Demand Webinar
A recent survey by Bay View Analytics shows that the majority of students are worried about meeting the cost of...
- Members Only
- On Demand Webinar
Activities and assignments in online courses can sometimes begin to feel redundant, as students respond to similar types of questions...
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- On Demand Webinar
In this webinar, the Center for Professional Learning (CPL) at the Online Learning Consortium will share their process for designing...
- Members Only
- On Demand Webinar
In the rapidly evolving landscape of online higher education, ensuring a superior user experience is paramount. This webinar will explore...
- Members Only
- On Demand Webinar
Evidence-based instructional strategies provide effective frameworks for designing both in-person and distance learning experiences that effectively achieve course learning outcomes....
- Members Only
- On Demand Webinar
This enlightening panel session will delve into effective strategies for project management (PM) in instructional design, empowering your practice in...
- Members Only
- On Demand Webinar
Digital textbooks, online homework, interactive lab modules, and more – digital course materials are now fully integrated into the classroom....
Course Delivery
- Members Only
- On Demand Webinar
Although first-generation students—those first in their families to pursue higher education—comprise a sizable portion of gateway (or general education) course...
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- Playbook
About the Playbook Over the past year our world has seen tremendous shifts in the way we interact, work, and...
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- Report
About the Report The mental health landscape in higher education has reached a critical juncture, with an increasing number of...
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- Article
Introduction Over the past decade, distance learning has seen a remarkable expansion, altering the landscape of education delivery and accessibility....
- Members Only
- On Demand Webinar
The Online Teaching and Learning (OTL) SIG, an influential special interest group of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and...
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- Article
The rise of online learning has transformed education, expanding access, flexibility, and opportunity. But while we’ve made significant strides in...
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- On Demand Webinar
Talking to students about suspected cheating is a delicate and often challenging task, but it’s necessary for maintaining academic integrity....
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- On Demand Webinar
In this webinar, we will share significant research findings regarding faculty, staff, and administrators perspectives on mental health support for...
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A student from Lagos steps off a bus into a rural Midwestern town to begin his undergraduate journey. A student...
- Members Only
- On Demand Webinar
Stories are powerful educational tools. Digital storytelling is a creative and meaningful way to build engagement and inclusion in online...
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- On Demand Webinar
Video discussions are truly a wonderful way to comply with the federal guidelines for Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI), but...
- Members Only
- On Demand Webinar
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, online education was viewed by some as an “alternative” to a traditional face-to-face (F2F) college experience...
Program-Level Resources
These resources support institutional leaders and faculty developers in building and sustaining quality across entire programs.
Program Design
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- On Demand Webinar
Proving that quality exists within online education programs can be a daunting and complex task. Typically, metrics such as course...
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- Guide
About the Guide Conceptualizing what blended learning (hybrid learning) looks like on your campus is an important step in ensuring...
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- Guide
About the Guide Created By: Every Learner Everywhere in partnership with Online Learning Consortium (OLC) & National Research Center for...
- Members Only
- On Demand Webinar
Enrollment in online higher education programs continues to outpace enrollment in traditional on-the-ground programs (Lederman, 2019; NCES, 2022). More students...
- Public
- On Demand Webinar
In this webinar, we will explore the potential of augmented and virtual environments—sometimes known collectively as the metaverse—within the context...
Faculty and Staff Development
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- Playbook
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- On Demand Webinar
Designing effective faculty development requires creativity and innovation to help capture a wide audience and engage them in relevant content....
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A partner institution recently requested student enrollment assistance via our consortium agreement. Our team recognized this as a simple scenario...
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What if one of the biggest pain points of your day could become your greatest professional development opportunity? As the...
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- On Demand Webinar
In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, the intersection of leadership and innovation has become paramount for institutions striving to remain competitive...
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- Report
About the Report An Inclusive Action Plan for Academic Leaders and Instructional Support Staff Understanding the role that adjunct instructors...
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- On Demand Webinar
In this enlightening webinar presented by the OLC Center for Professional Learning team, we will explore the innovative applications of...
- Members Only
- On Demand Webinar
Instructional design and learning technology professionals are the “engines” and “Swiss Army Knives” of organizations, playing key roles that advance...
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In today’s fast-changing world, employees must constantly adapt to evolving roles and responsibilities. However, training shouldn’t feel like an added...
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Are you aspiring to become a leader or to lead a great team? Matthews (2005), in his book Aim for...
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- Playbook
About the Playbook An Inclusive Action Plan for Academic Leaders and Instructional Support Staff Created By: Every Learner Everywhere in...
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In online education and training, professionals rightfully prioritize learners—but too often, they lack meaningful opportunities for their own professional development....
Evaluation and Review
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- Report
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- On Demand Webinar
Join us as we delve into the findings of a soon-to-be-published research report by the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). In...
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- Report
About the Report In January 2021, Eric Loepp, a faculty member in the department of political science at the University...
Want to Dive Deeper?
Browse OLC’s full catalog of published reports, stay up-to-date on the latest thought leadership trends with OLC Insights, or add an upcoming OLC Webinar to your calendar.