Sloan Consortium quality framework and its five quality pillars
The Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) has developed a quality framework for learning with an emphasis on asynchronous learning networks (ALN). The quality framework focuses on five pillars that support quality learning environments. These quality pillars include:
- Learning Effectiveness: The provider demonstrates that the quality of learning online is comparable to the quality of its traditional programs.
- Cost Effectiveness and Institutional Commitment: Institutions continuously improve services while reducing cost.
- Access: All learners who wish to learn online have the opportunity and can achieve success.
- Faculty Satisfaction: Faculty achieve success with teaching online, citing appreciation and happiness.
- Student Satisfaction: Students are successful in learning online and are pleased with their experience.
The process and the principles of the Sloan-C quality framework align in academic educational environments as well as they do in corporate training environments. The framework also specifies goals, processes / practice, metrics, and progress indices that, when properly adapted, allow for a more effective monitoring and measurement of provisions to enhance quality of training and education.
Sloan-C is a consortium of institutions and organizations from academica and the private sector that are committed to quality online education. The consortium was created with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.