Sec. 13b.01.01.22. Interactive Distance Education by Private Career Schools—Curriculum and Instruction

A. A school shall utilize appropriate instructional delivery methods and technology to meet the objectives of a program, conform with generally accepted educational, professional, and ethical standards, and comply with the following conditions:

(1) The objectives of the program shall be reasonably attainable and be of a nature that they can be achieved through distance education;

(2) The learning objectives shall, if appropriate to the nature and type of the program, be comparable to similar programs that are not delivered by distance education;

(3) Learning outcomes promised to students shall be achievable with the technology utilized;

(4) Resident training shall supplement the instruction delivered by distance education if necessary to attain the stated educational objectives;

(5) A program delivered by distance education shall be coherent and complete; and

(6) A school shall demonstrate that the clock hours required and awarded are appropriate for the program or portion of the program delivered by distance education.

B. A program shall provide for real-time or delayed interaction between faculty and students, and comply with the following conditions:

(1) Interactive instructions shall be an integral, pervasive, and integrated feature of a program or portion of a program delivered by distance education;

(2) Distance education shall employ interactive, electronically communicated methods for delivering instruction to students;

(3) Instructor-to-student interactions shall be critical components in any learning experience, and schools shall plan for and include timely accessibility of faculty as well as the appropriate interactivity for their instruction; and

(4) A school shall utilize appropriate and effective instructional materials and teaching methods to ensure the active involvement of students.

C. A program of study shall be developed by a team of qualified faculty, administrators, and technologists.

D. Qualified faculty shall provide appropriate oversight of the program offered, which shall comply with the following conditions:

(1) A school shall employ instructors who have the technical skills to teach in a distance education environment and meet the other qualifications for instructors identified in Regulation .10A of this chapter;

(2) The qualifications of instructional staff shall be documented in their personnel files including, but not limited to, evidence of appropriate training or experience in distance education instruction, other relevant experience, and formal educational attainment including certificates and degrees earned; and

(3) Technically, academically, and experientially qualified faculty shall oversee the instruction, evaluation, and grading requirements of the distance education training.

E. Distance education shall be conducted in conformity with generally accepted educational, professional, and ethical standards.