Internal and External Perceptions About Quality of Online Education

Abstract

Objective. The main objective of the study was to know the quality of online education at the university level. Method. Methodologically, a mixed approach was used with a convergent analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data were obtained from students, teachers, and graduates of this educational modality through focus groups and in-depth interviews. The quantitative data were obtained from external inquiries through surveys. Results. As a result, external visions did not show credulity about the quality of online education and, without knowing its curricular dynamism, they exhibited distrust about the competencies of graduates. This explains why higher education continues to be predominantly face-to-face, even with the rise of the virtual world. On the other hand, the internal visions revealed confidence in the quality and confirmed theoretical concepts about learning in virtuality related to pedagogical mediations, educational, technological platforms, pedagogical competencies of teachers, construction of learning, and continuous participation of students. Conclusions. These findings can be applied in the renewal of educational quality systems focused on the positivist measurement of intrinsic factors; they can also be used to advance from a model of socialization and promotion based on flexibility and easy access to another focused on pedagogical potential and training advantages of online education.