H.1. Definition
MACTE requires that on-site and online education certification course levels are evaluated using the same standards and competencies, and that they achieve the same outcomes.
Online education in the context of Montessori teacher education certification courses:
- Online Education: Education in which instruction is delivered when the Adult Learnerol and Instructor are not together in residence. The program needs to clearly state the method of delivery and the delivery needs to be interactive.
- Online Education Program: A program, which conducts classes where the Adult Learner and Faculty are not together in residence, offers the majority of its required certification courses via online education.
- Online Education Certification Course: A Montessori teacher education certification course that an Adult Learner can complete primarily online from the site at which the accredited program is located.
- Residency Requirement: For all levels, at least 120 academic clock hours of instruction must be offered while the Adult Learners are in residence at the program. If a program offers Elementary I –II and/or Secondary I-II Certification Course Levels at least 180 academic clock ours of instruction must be offered while the Adult Learners are in residence at the program. The On-Site Verification Visit must be conducted during the residential phase of the certification course. [REV. 07/14]
H.2. Review of Online Education Certification Courses
- Accredited programs must submit a Substantive Change 5B Addition of Online Education application when any components of a certification course are offered via online education.
- Accredited programs offering three or more of the course components as defined by the program’s affiliating organization via online education must submit a full Application/Self-Study. The On-Site Verification Visit must occur during the residency phase of instruction. During the On-Site Verification Visit, all components of the course, online and residential, will be examined. The On-Site Verification Team will consist of at least one (1) verifier with experience in online education delivery. The program must submit documentation of how it complies with the guidelines below:
- Budgets and policy statements must reflect a commitment to the Adult Learners for whom the online education certification course is designed. There must be evidence that the course is financially sustainable.
- Regardless of course delivery the course content must remain the same.
- The program must ensure that Adult Learners have access to adequate resources, and skills to participate effectively in online education.
- Appropriate technical assistance must be available to Adult Learners and faculty members.
- Faculty members must have training appropriate to their respective roles in the online education certification course.
- The program must have effective means to support, monitor, and evaluate the work of faculty.
- The online community of faculty and Adult Learners and among Adult Learners must be reflected in the design of the certification course.
- The program must have a plan for comprehensive, ongoing evaluation of the online education certification course, and must provide documentation regarding the evaluation process.
- Overall effectiveness of the online education certification course must be determined by measures such as the degree to which the course meets its intended outcomes. Program outcomes must be comparable to those of on-site certification courses.
- The program must ensure that the Adult Learner who registers in a online education course is the same Adult Learner who participates in and completes the course, and receives the academic credit.
