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In order for an online course to be properly carried out it must be properly planned. The goal of this paper is to provide users with a methodology to design, assess and follow up a good quality online course project. The methodology proposes six phases to be followed in order to accomplish the task: Analysis of educational problem; justification and purposes of the project; proposal of project's perspectives; education, operational and financial planning; project's expected results, and project tracking and assessment. The proposed methodology allowed designing and carrying out the online course project called Rubrics for Assessment of Activities of e-Learning which was given at the Distance University of Poland. Even though the course was highly assessed by its participants, their comments imply the necessity of a more careful planning of the pedagogical components of the course. Despite this weakness, the project allowed to obtain answers to the main questions raised by decisions to be made when planning a course: What is intended to be done?, why?, what for?, how?, when?, by whom?, with what resources and funds? It is concluded that the proposed methodology may constitute a reference framework for the universities that wish to plan a high quality online course, both in Poland and in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MOOCs are seen as the latest development in online learning and since their launch in 2008 they have become an integral part of university course curricula. We are currently at an early stage in the development of MOOCs; few studies have been published on their assessment so far. Consequently, this paper is based on a literature review, using the main academic databases JCR and Scopus, on 33 articles published between 2013 and 2015 with the objective of determining the educational quality of MOOCs. The methodology is based on a literature review procedure in which seven categories were distinguished when carrying out the analysis: course planning, contents, methodology, resources and activities, motivation, communication, and assessment and certification. The results of this study show that the assessment of the quality of MOOCs refers to a slightly higher than average quality, except for the three variables of content, resources and activities, and assessment. However, it warns of a lack of studies that assess the pedagogical quality of MOOCs and so we suggest further studies are needed with greater methodological rigour to obtain conclusive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we start with the description of a case of implementation of a methodology of assessment in a higher education context, within the frame of organizational change implied by the compliance of the standards set by the European Space for Higher Education. The case described is an academic experience with a strong faculty development component and on-line learning activities. Taking this case as reference and as we describe it, we address different dimensions and constituent elements: meaning and sense of competences in this context, their assessment, methods and tools, and problems related to virtual teaching. The problem of academic integrity and authentication. We stress the importance of having meaningful experiences that help to study, understand, research and develop new endeavors based on what has already been done, as well as of reviewing concepts, analyzing the assessment system, and reflecting on the new situations and factors within which learning assessment and competence acquisition take place. We also reflect on and take as object of study the new profiles of previous and developing competences, the present factors that lead to risk of academic plagiarism, and activities authorship. Finally, we offer a model in the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, University needs to assess the university teaching activity in a framework where new ways of learning are being carried out. ANECA offers a model and set of procedures that guide the activities of the university, without prejudice to the autonomy of it. Therefore, as the new settings are not being analyzed in depth, this paper makes a research proposal for assessment of university teaching in virtual learning environments, that includes four componentes: planning and content of the course, teacher's activity, interaction with peers and environment. These factors have been identified through the development of a causal model and its estimation using a structural equation analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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