Building an Online Ed.D. Program on a Foundation of Research-Based Best Practices

This session chronicles the initiative of a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program to improve the quality of its online courses. The initiative included three objectives in the application of research-based best practices for online course design: (1) train faculty, (2) provide internal resources and guidance, and (3) achieve external certification of Ed.D. program courses. As a result of the successful completion of these objectives, the program outcomes included: improved online student experiences; faculty, course, and program recognition; and a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Recommendations include the use of Quality Matters for research-based best practices and course review certification as well as a comprehensive team effort focused on student outcomes.