1. Purpose and Scope
Brussels College delivers its qualifications, including the NCC Education Level 3 International Foundation Diploma for Higher Education Studies (L3IFDHES), on a full on-campus, full online, and hybrid basis. This document sets out the standards every tutor is expected to meet when teaching online or hybrid sessions, so that the quality of instruction a student receives does not depend on whether they are in the room or joining remotely.
These standards are adapted from the National Standards for Quality Online Teaching (nsqol.org), a widely used benchmark framework for online instruction, re-framed here for Brussels College's adult, higher-education context and delivered through Google Classroom and Google Workspace for Education.
ℹ️ How this fits together: This document covers what is expected of the
tutor delivering a session. The companion
Online Standards for Programs covers what Brussels College as an institution provides to make that possible.
2. Standard A — Professional Responsibilities
The online tutor demonstrates professional competence by meeting the following responsibilities.
- Subject and platform competence: holds appropriate qualifications in the subject taught (see the Teaching Staff Appendix) and can operate Google Classroom, Google Meet, and Brussels College's student records system without assistance
- First-line technical support: is the first point of contact for a learner's access or technology issue during a session, and knows when to escalate to IT support
- Compliance with learner-rights legislation: follows GDPR and Brussels College's Data Protection Policy in all online interactions, and safeguards any recordings or chat logs per that policy
- Reflective practice: reviews learner feedback (see the Student Feedback Form) and peer observation notes each term and identifies at least one area for improvement
- Consistent presence: posts announcements and materials on Google Classroom on a regular, predictable schedule, and maintains a visible, active presence in every unit taught
3. Standard B — Digital Citizenship and Academic Integrity
- Modelling responsible technology use: demonstrates appropriate, disclosed use of generative AI tools in line with Brussels College's Academic Integrity expectations, and teaches learners to do the same
- Academic integrity instruction: explains plagiarism, collusion, and citation expectations at the start of each unit, consistent with the Malpractice and Maladministration Policy
- Intellectual property: ensures all materials shared on Google Classroom comply with copyright and fair use, and does not share one learner's work with others without consent
- Data protection in online tools: uses only Brussels College-approved platforms for teaching and assessment, and does not move learner data to personal or unapproved accounts
4. Standard C — Engagement and Belonging
- Technical onboarding: ensures every learner can access Google Classroom and Google Meet before their first graded activity, and provides simple written instructions for common tasks
- Monitoring engagement: reviews Google Classroom participation and submission data regularly, and follows up directly with learners who fall behind
- Timely, supportive communication: responds to learner questions raised through Google Classroom or email within 2 working days
- Actionable feedback: returns feedback on submitted work within 10 working days, using Google Classroom's comment and grading tools
- Building community online: uses breakout discussions, live Q&A, and collaborative activities in Google Meet sessions so that online learners have the same opportunity to interact with peers as on-campus learners
- Addressing conduct issues promptly: deals with inappropriate behaviour in online sessions or Google Classroom comments in line with the Code of Conduct, and escalates safeguarding concerns immediately per the Safeguarding Policy
5. Standard D — Learner-Centred Instruction
- Understanding individual needs: uses a short start-of-unit survey to understand learners' access to devices, internet connectivity, and any support needs
- Accommodating disability and access needs: implements agreed adjustments for online assessment in line with the Special Considerations Policy (for example, extended time on a Google Classroom assignment, or a captioned recording of a live session)
- Monitoring progress continuously: tracks submission rates, formative quiz results, and attendance at live sessions, and intervenes early where a learner is falling behind
- Adapting delivery: adjusts pacing, provides recorded sessions for learners who cannot attend live, and offers alternative formats for learners who need them
6. Standard E — Instructional Design
- Alignment to learning outcomes: every resource posted to Google Classroom is mapped to a specific unit learning outcome from the qualification specification
- Appropriate, current resources: uses materials appropriate to a Level 3 foundation-year learner, reviewed and updated at least annually
- Continuous assessment: builds in regular low-stakes formative checks (quizzes, short tasks) via Google Classroom so learners can track their own progress ahead of summative assessment
- Constructive feedback design: uses Google Classroom's rubric and comment-bank tools so feedback is specific and actionable, not just a grade
- Purposeful use of technology: chooses tools (live polls, shared documents, breakout rooms) because they support a specific learning outcome, not for novelty
7. Training and Support for Tutors
New tutors receive induction on Google Classroom, Google Meet, and these standards before teaching their first online session, as set out in the Staff Development Policy. Ongoing digital-teaching training is offered each term.
8. Monitoring Compliance
- The Vice Rector reviews Google Classroom activity, response times, and learner feedback each term against these standards
- Peer observation of at least one online or hybrid session per tutor, per year
- Findings feed into staff appraisals and the annual review of this document
9. Related Policies
10. Contact Information