What’s Next: Could coronavirus change the credit hour as we know it? – Education Dive
Some observers say the quick move to online education could fuel the gradual shift toward newer ways of evaluating what students are learning.
It’s been a month since the coronavirus forced college campuses across the U.S. to close to most students. As classes moved online, learners, instructors and administrators grappled with a host of questions spurred by the current moment — but not unique to it.
Among them: When faculty are teaching courses designed for the classroom remotely, how can they be sure students are learning as intended?
The U.S. Department of Education is giving schools and their accreditors flexibility to adapt courses for online or remote delivery, dropping some approval and technology requirements. And accreditors have said they are trying to limit red tape for institutions.
Colleges have been giving students latitude in assessments, acknowledging that the disruption may affect their ability to complete coursework well and on time. Many schools are moving to pass/fail grading and are encouraging instructors to opt for less-strenuous assignments.