Open, Distance and Flexible Learning (ODFL) has the potential to enhance access and achieve equity in educational provision. However, it is important for providers to have sound quality assurance mechanisms in place to maximise learning benefits and gain positive perceptions of this mode of provision from the public.

This short course, Quality Assurance for Open, Distance and Flexible Learning for Pacific Countries (QA4ODFL2), follows on from an earlier course, QA4ODF1, which focused on quality assurance issues at the strategic level, including policy, governance, finance and infrastructure. The new MOOC explores operational issues such as content development, staffing, communication, assessment and learner support management, technology choices and more. The course takes participants through key aspects that affect quality delivery, including course content development, supporting learning through assessment, human resource strategy and managing communication to support open school learners.

Dr Tony Mays, Education Specialist: Open Schooling, noted, “This is the last in a series of open short courses exploring different aspects of ODFL provision at an introductory level, which were designed to provide guidelines for more flexible provision as education systems were responding to classroom disruptions during the pandemic and subsequently due to tropical cyclones and other challenges. Having explored key issues at an introductory level, the next series of courses will explore ODFL more formally as an intentional and planned strategy for improving education system resilience.”

The course starts on 16 October and will run for four consecutive weeks until 17 November 2023.

For more information about the course and registration details, please visit https://oer.nz/qa4odfl2oct23 or download the course brochure here.