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Spanish National Standard 66181:2012 about Quality & Accessibility of on-line learning
The Spanish standard "UNE 66181:2012 Quality management. Quality of virtual education" was published in 2012 and aims to improve user satisfaction of virtual training, considering that the level of satisfaction depends on the difference, positive or negative, between their initial expectations (than expected) and they have received. For it establishes a quality model based on a series of quality indicators represent factors of satisfaction of users, each of which are broken down into key attributes that can act to improve the factor for satisfaction. The quality of a training activity is determined by the combination of the level of satisfaction associated with each factor. These three factors are "Recognition of training", "Learning methodology" and "Accessibility". The factor ACCESSIBILITY attempts to quantify the extent to which virtual training may be understandable, usable and practicable efficiently and effectively by anyone. It has been considered three key attributes that affect accessibility: accessibility of hardware, software accessibility and accessibility of Web content.
In the standard, satisfaction factors are presented in a ranking of 5 levels of quality. The scale ranges from level 1 "INITIAL" to level 5 "EXCELLENT" for customers and users to have more information on the training available and can be compared. To reach a level must meet all the requirements specified in it and also the previous levels.
For quantification of each factor of satisfaction a different list of specific criteria IS used; so that, in general, the assessment of the quality of a training activity for each factor is obtained by considering as starting level reached the lowest value for any of the attributes in which it decomposes.
The following table shows how to quantify the level of accessibility of an online course. As shown, it is necessary to verify compliance with the hardware accessibility requirements set by a prior Spanish Standard, with software accessibility requirements established by ISO 9241-171, and Web accessibility success criteria established by WCAG 2.0.
| Level | Hardware Accessibility | Software Accessibility | Web Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Initial | Specific information about accessibility is not provided | Specific information about accessibility is not provided | Specific information about accessibility is not provided |
| 2. Basic | It is stated in the basic information if the online course is adapted to be carried by people with disabilities. And information on the major problems that could be people with disabilities to take the course is provided | It is stated in the basic information if the online course is adapted to be carried by people with disabilities. And information on the major problems that could be people with disabilities to take the course is provided | It is stated in the basic information if the online course is adapted to be carried by people with disabilities. And information on the major problems that could be people with disabilities to take the course is provided |
| 3. Good | The hardware platform has accessibility aids and they are identified and explained | The online learning platform has accessibility aids and they are identified and explained | The online learning platform has accessibility aids and they are identified and explained |
| 4. Very good | Meets requirements of Priority 1 of the Spanish Standard UNE 139801 | Meets the following requirements of ISO 9241-171:2008: 8.1.1, 8.1.4, 8.2.4, 8.2.7, 8.3.1, 8.3.3, 8.4.4, 8.4.5, 8.4.9, 8.5.2, 8.5.3, 8.5.4, 8.5.5, 8.5.6, 8.5.7, 8.5.9, 8.5.10, 8.5.11, 8.5.12, 8.6.1, 8.6.2, 8.6.3, 8.6.4, 9.1.2, 9.2.1, 9.2.2, 9.3.2, 9.3.3, 9.3.4, 9.3.5, 9.3.8, 9.3.12, 9.3.14, 9.4.2, 9.4.4, 9.4.6, 9.4.9, 9.4.10, 9.4.11, 9.4.13, 9.4.14, 10.1.1, 10.1.2, 10.1.3, 10.2.4, 10.4.1, 10.5.3, 10.5.4, 10.5.5, 10.5.7, 10.5.10, 10.6.2, 10.6.7, 10.6.8, 10.6.9, 10.7.1, 10.7.3, 10.8.1, 10.8.4, 11.1.2, 11.1.3, 11.1.5, 11.2.1 | Meets the compliance level A of WCAG 2.0 |
| 5. Excellent | Meets requirements of Priority 2 of the Spanish Standard UNE 139801 | Meets the following requirements of ISO 9241-171:2008: 8.1.2, 8.1.5, 8.1.6, 8.2.1, 8.2.2, 8.3.2, 8.3.4, 8.3.5, 8.3.6, 8.4.3, 8.4.6, 8.4.8, 8.4.10, 8.4.11, 8.4.12, 8.5.8, 9.1.1, 9.1.3, 9.1.4, 9.2.3, 9.3.6, 9.3.7, 9.3.9, 9.3.11, 9.3.15, 9.3.16, 9.4.3, 9.4.5, 9.4.7, 9.4.8, 10.3.1, 10.3.3, 10.4.3, 10.4.4, 10.4.5, 10.5.1, 10.5.2, 10.5.8, 10.5.9, 10.6.1, 10.7.2, 10.7.4, 10.8.2, 10.8.3, 10.9.1, 10.9.2, 10.9.3, 11.1.1, 11.1.4, 11.2.2 | Meets the compliance level AA of WCAG 2.0 |
To assess the "Accessibility" factor, in addition to the information specified in the table, the "hardware accessibility" attribute only applies if the supplier provides computers as part of the service, and that the attribute "software accessibility" applies only if the online training provider provides the software of computer equipment as part of the service, or if the course includes programming objects that are outside the control of web browser (flash, java , etc.).
Users of online training can use this standard as a basis to compare different training offers, through the degree of accessibility of each training activity. In this way, the customer gets an overall assessment of the level of satisfaction that can provide every training offer and, therefore, select the one that best fits your needs and expectations.
The standard has been elaborated by the Quality of virtual education Working Group, of the Spanish Association for Standardisation and Certification (AENOR)