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Abstract
The last decade witnessed a ‘virtual goldrush’ of activity in regard to online education
worldwide. Unfortunately, many institutions and software companies flattened the
pedagogical landscape in a scramble to establish their own online presence. In general, what remained were hastily planned and generally low quality subjects/programs: sadly reinforcing belief that online education is a poor substitute for face-to-face learning and teaching.
Fortunately, time has moved on, with more credible institutions realising that quality must be the key component of online education. Some have begun to identify highlights of previous examples and are building upon them. It has become apparent that to achieve purposeful and quality online subjects, educators need to look past an immediate return and view a more long-term solution.
COFA Online was established at the College of Fine Arts in 2003, and has since been
planning, developing and teaching online subjects in art and design practice, education and theory - methodically building the foundations of a sustainable online program. This paper outlines the COFA Online Course Author Fellowship program and how it aims to provide a quality experience for students studying online