An Investigation of the Fundamental Characteristics in Quality Online Spanish Instruction

This article presents research fi ndings investigating the fundamental characteris-tics in online Spanish instruction (at the university level in the United States) de-signed to maximize learning outcomes. The researcher collected data to develop a rubric of the fundamental characteristic in online Spanish instruction and then to determine whether the characteristics were currently being included in online Spanish instruction and to what level of success, according to students taking online Spanish courses. The analysis in the study followed Mooreʼs principles of distance education as a theoretical base and tested the research fi ndings against these theories