Purpose-The recognition of practice in online instruction is still subject to interpretation and different approaches as a result of the rapid changes in technology and its effect on society. The purpose of this paper is to address these differences through a synthesis that can be easily accessed and consulted by educators in the field of e-learning. Design/methodology/approach-This paper reviews different examples of rubrics and instruments in higher education to propose a more comprehensive rubric that constitutes a synthesis of how some institutions in HE approach best practice in this field. Findings-The proposed comprehensive rubric emanating from the synthesis of different approaches supports the development, remixing, sharing and integration of online modules and courses by providing a single reference point with as wide a range as possible of potential pedagogical tools, facilities and approaches to e-learning. Research limitations/implications-It is not within the scope of this paper to review quality assurance processes and administrative components, but to propose a rubric for course design and self-review of faculty and higher education institutions for a better alignment with what is regarded as current standard best practice. Practical implications-Instructional designers in e-learning have a new comprehensive rubric that can consult at design stage. Originality/value-Different approaches towards what is called "good practice" are brought together and analysed to provide a synthesis and a single source that can be consulted by practitioners in the field of e-learning. Keywords E-learning instructional design, E-learning peer review, E-learning quality standards, E-learning self-review Paper type Research paper Literature review: slightly different paths for e-learning By the year 2002, the fusion between in-class instruction and online instruction was already being recognised as a major new trend; old practices were being transferred online, and different institutions had rather different understandings of the concept of e-learning (Frydenberg, 2002; Graham et al., 2013; Young, 2002). As late as 2011, Guri-Rosenblit and Gros (2011) concluded there were "noticeable gaps" in e-learning research and definition of terminology. One of the reasons for this lack of coherence is: The technological environment within which modern education operates is becoming increasingly complex, offering new possibilities but also giving rise to challenges. We have seen a continual evolution of technologies and how they are used since the introduction of the Internet (Conole and Alevizou, 2010, p. 9). De Freitas and Conole (2010) observed the trend of more global, more networked and more mobile technology infrastructure and these are emerging in online pedagogy. Indeed, McLoughlin and Lee (2010) argued that this new landscape: Calls for the active involvement of students in defining their learning goals and choosing both ICT tools and strategies for learning; it also requires recognition that user and learner generated co...